An estimate of over 500 million plastic drinking straws are used in the United States everyday. Much of these straws do not make it to the recycle bin, and as a result these straws pile up in landfills. There are simple alternatives to plastic non biodegradable straws, such as paper, glass, or stainless steal straws, it could be just as easy to go without a straw.
To eliminate the usage of plastic straws in food establishments would lower the amount of waste our country produces, in exchange reducing our environmental impact.
There is little reason to keep plastic straws in our restaurants when there are alternatives that are environmentally friendly.