Plastic straw ban

Categorized in: News, Position Statements Posted on: Last updated on: Written by:

Plastic straws are in the news, with people concerned about the impact they have on the environment. But for many people with disability, plastic straws are an essential accessibility tool that means we can have a drink safely and easily.

a clear glass being filled with water. Text above says "How would you drink this glass of water? Many people with disability require a plastic straw. Underneath the image it says in blue text "It's hard to participate in community activities if you can't have a drink while participating in them"

Many alternatives to plastic straws won’t work for people with disability and an outright ban will be harmful. We don’t support a ban and we want campaigners to listen to people with disability about why a plastic straw ban is a bad idea.

Instead of a ban, people who don’t want to use plastic straws should be able to say so when they are buying a drink. Then plastic straws will be available for people with disability, so we can have access to safe ways to have a drink just like everyone else.

For people with disability who do need straws, asking them to bring their own, to wash and clean straws and to purchase straws creates further barriers in the way of people with disability having access to the community. It’s hard to participate in community activities if you can’t have a drink while doing this.

This is a chart, compiled by Sarah Packwood, about why the alternatives don’t work for many people with disability.

Infographic, first block of text reads “Many disabled people need plastic straws to drink, eat, take medications, etc. Here’s how current alternative, reusable options are a harm to us.” Text from table reads “Metal: injury risk, not positionable, costly for consumer, not high-temp safe. Bamboo: injury risk, not positionable, costly for consumer. Glass: injury risk, not positionable, costly for consumer, not high-temp safe. Silicone: not positionable, costly for consumer. Acrylic: injury risk, not positionable, costly for consumer, not high-temp safe. Paper: choking hazard, not positionable, not high-temp safe. Pasta: choking hazard, injury risk, not positionable, not high-temp safe. Single-use: (no risk listed).” Second block of text reads “Pressure to create bio-degradable straw options that are safe for the environment and for all disabled people should fall upon manufacturer, not marginalized disabled consumers. Once we accept the necessity of plastic straws, we can work together on other environmental initiatives that are effective, inclusive and accessible.”

 
Read more about this issue:

ABC – Disability advocates condemn South Australia’s proposed ban on single-use plastics

Probono News – Disabilities community’s fury over single-plastic ban

Talking Disability – Environmental debate the ‘final straw’ for people with disability

Alice Wong – The Last Straw

Penny Pepper – I rely on plastic straws and baby wipes. I’m disabled – I have no choice

s.e.smith – Banning straws might be a win for environmentalists. But it ignores us disabled people.