News / Plastic
More Bristol businesses ban plastic straws
An increasing number of pubs, bars and restaurants across Bristol are banning plastic straws to counter the scourge of single-use plastics.
Wickwar Wessex Pub Company have become the latest business to join the campaign, with biodegradable straws now available at their Bristol pubs – the Cat & Wheel, Punchbowl, Gloucester Road Ale House, Downend Tavern, White Lion, Jersey Lily and Cotham Porter Stores – should a customer request one.
Gloucester Road Ale House is one of Wickwar’s pubs to reduce their use of plastic straws
Wickwar head of operations, Darren Earl, estimates that the change will remove almost half a million plastic straws used annually across the business. Their new biodegradable straws are made using vegetable extract.
is needed now More than ever
He said: “This move demonstrates our commitment in helping to preserve our environment, by reducing the amount of non-recyclable plastic waste that we produce.”
Other businesses in Bristol have gone even further than Wickwar.
No. 51 Stokes Croft, for example, only use metal straws and charge their customers a £1 returnable deposit for using them.
The Bank Tavern and Watershed use the same Vegware straws as Wickwar’s pubs, while the likes of Bocabar, the Green Man, Graze and Chance & Counters have also all banned plastic straws.
Award-winning environmentalist Natalie Fee, founder of City To Sea and Refill Bristol, is currently behind a petition to introduce a levy on takeaway single-use plastic, including straws, which so far has gathered more than 126,000 signatures.
The aim is to put pressure on environment secretary Michael Gove when he opens an enquiry later this month into solutions on plastic pollution.
Natalie told Bristol24/7: “It’s heartening to see another chain coming on board to stop serving plastic straws in drinks.
“2017 was the year that the problem of plastic pollution really landed in people’s consciousness so it’s fantastic to see businesses implementing these changes.
“Through individuals choosing to ‘refuse or reuse’, businesses introducing bans or ‘only on request’ policies and government introducing a levy on single-use takeaway plastics, we’ll be on course for turning the tide on plastic pollution in 2018.”
Read more: My Bristol Favourites: Natalie Fee
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