HYANNIS – In the ongoing battle against single-use plastic, C.A.R.E. for the Cape and Islands recognized National Skip the Straw Day on Friday in Hyannis.
The organization set up an information table at the Cape Cod Mall’s food court from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., with plentiful help from the Cape Abilities “Green Team.”
“CARE for the Cape & Islands started the Cape and Island-wide Skip the Straw campaign last year and today is National Skip the Straw Day, so we thought we go out and speak to the public to continue to raise awareness,” said Care for the Cape founder Jill Talladay.
“I see them everywhere and they don’t breakdown. That’s part of the problem, they’re too small, they end up in the waste stream, and they just create litter and problems and they don’t decompose. The plastic straw is just kind of a start to the whole conversation of single-use plastic.”
While set up in the food court, CARE for the Cape invited people to sign the organization’s pledge and were taught about ways of reducing single-use plastic.
“To clarify, its plastic straws that’s what we’re really concerned about,” Talladay explained.
“The plastic straws, if they end up in the marine environment, they can kill our sea life. Its whales, its fish, and a lot of people saw the video that went viral of the poor turtle that it stuck up their nose.”
Those who pledged were also allowed to enter to win a CARE bag that includes a reusable metal straw.
An estimated 500 million plastic straws are used each day, ranking among the top ten items collected during beach cleanups.
C.A.R.E. for the Cape and Islands was founded in 2012 “to create a responsible environment” by connecting visitors, residents, businesses and organizations with educational and stewardship opportunities that support the long-term sustainability of the region.
By TIM DUNN, CapeCod.com News Center
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