Introduction:
A commitment to sustainability is becoming increasingly important to universities, particularly due to the continual shift of the sociopolitical climate towards environmentally-friendly policies and practices. NC State has been facilitating this transformation through its Sustainability Council, but has yet to address one often-overlooked, yet extremely detrimental waste item: plastic straws. The United States alone uses over 500 million straws a day, and straws are one of the top 10 items collected globally from coastal cleanup efforts. Though small and lightweight, the sheer number that end up in landfills (or worse, as litter in the oceans) can cause a severe impact, and thus must be addressed by a university with a mission …show more content…
One important fact is that it is not biodegradable, so it will eventually break into very small pieces, but cannot be decomposed by bacteria, fungi, or other living creatures and thus recycled in the environment naturally. This means that plastic may remain in the environment for over 2,000 years. It also contains Bisphenol-A, or BPA, which has toxic building blocks that could potentially be released over time from stresses like heat or excessive washing. If these stresses occur in a landfill, the toxic chemicals can leak into the surrounding ground where they can contaminate groundwater.
Plastic Straws in Bodies of Water
There are numerous circumstances that result in plastic straws making their way into bodies of water, for example humans intentionally littering or the wind blowing debris out and away from overstuffed trashcans. Marine life is especially susceptible to experiencing the harmful effects of plastic straws being where they should not be, as their small size is conducive to accidental ingestion. This causes death in creatures like fish, turtles, and sea birds approximately 50% of the time, upsetting the ecological balance of the community.

Proposed …show more content…
The first way to do this is by establishing designated plastic straw removal booths in high traffic areas, like Talley Student Union, the Brickyard, and the Engineering Oval. These booths will first and foremost present alternatives to plastic straws, like compostable straws and stainless steel straws, and also offer stainless steel straw giveaways (approximately 1000) so that students may start preparing for the removal of plastic straws. The individuals manning these booths should be knowledgeable about the harmful nature of plastic straw disposal and able to answer general student questions about the straw removal project. Feedback will also be collected at these booths for