(CNN) Every day, Americans throw away 500 million plastic straws , enough to circle the Earth twice, or fill 125 school buses. When I'm in New York or LA the number of plastic straws I receive is often closer to 10 a day." Last year, large pub chain Wetherspoons announced that it would replace plastic straws with paper alternatives across 900 outlets. Offering alternatives or making plastic straws optional, rather than banning them outright, is a common trait among these campaigns. "There are disabled people who write me to tell me they carry reusable straws with them -- many reusable straws even come with a carrying case," said Cress.

Source: CNN January 15, 2018 00:11 UTC