A lot of restaurants and bars in California have gotten rid of plastic straws since the state passed a law limiting where plastic straws can be used. Since then, metal straws have been popping up everywhere. You can buy them in many stores here in Berkeley, but should you? I have asked people who work in public health: “Are metal straws safe?”, and nobody said: “Yes.” The problem is this – it is easy to clean the outside of a metal straw, but how do you sanitize the inside of it? Metal straws come with a little brush designed to clean out the inside of these straws, but how can you be sure that you got all the germs and stuff inside the straw that could rot or mold? I was at a catered event and was offered a drink with a metal straw in it. I wouldn’t drink it and asked the bartender for another drink without a straw in it. I had no way of knowing who used that straw before me. The last person who used that straw might have had the flu. You can get the flu, hepatitis, and many other diseases by using a straw that was previously used by an infected person. In addition, it is not clear that metal straws are better for the environment than plastic straws. Making one nickel straw generates more carbon emissions than 100 plastic straws. Plus, how much hot water would you have to use to thoroughly clean a metal straw inside and out 100 times, and how many people are really going to do that? If you want to avoid using plastic straws, use paper or cardboard straws or drink your beverages without a straw. Many cities, like Berkeley, are passing laws to ban or phase out single-use paper products, like coffee cups and straws. I think that is a bad idea. The problem is that it is very hard for politicians in a place like Berkeley to vote against a law that is perceived to be good for the environment – even if they know that it is not a good idea.
RECYCLING CANS. Take a look at the photo below. I see trash cans like these all over Berkeley and San Francisco. This is why China and other countries won’t accept American garbage. Americans mix everything together.
