STRAWS

First of all, if you have not seen this video, it's really all you need to see.


THEN CONSIDER


Although with a few exceptions, most people do not need a straw to drink their water, their soda or their cocktail when dining out.  Do you use one at home?   It is estimated that Americans use more than 180 billion plastic straws a year.  


Plastic straws are not recyclable.  Most end up in the landfill, or even worse, out in the environment where they can harm wildlife and marine animals. 

Data from Delaware

 Along Delaware's coastlines, approximately 2,000 straws are found annually during the Coastal Cleanup which is only three hours in September once a year. 

Plastic Straw Initiative

Plastic Free Delaware has launched an outreach initiative to diners and dining establishments alike.  Diners can request "no straw please," and PFD encourages restaurants to give straws only when requested, and we hope that those that are distributed will be biodegradable. 

Delaware Diners Deputized

When dining out, be sure to relay to your server, "no straw please."  If you forget, and one appears, use it as a conversation starter to ask the establishment to switch to a straws-by-request-only (biodegradable please) approach only.  You can refer them to this site, and the materials below to provide more information.

What's not to love?

Restaurants can:

  • save money by buying far fewer straws
  • decrease plumbing call costs
  • open up precious storage space
  • and save the environment!

Is your Restaurant on the Banned Wagon?

The following Delaware dining establishments have been confirmed or reported by our intrepid community ambassadors (you can be one, too!) as having adopted the straws-by-request-only policy (and those they do distribute are hopefully biodegradable):


  1. Grain (Newark, Bear, Kennett Square)
  2. Dogfish Head (Rehoboth & Milton)
  3. Michy's (Rehoboth)
  4. New Castle Cafe
  5. Pie
  6. Kid Shelleen's (Wilmington)
  7. Harry's Savoy (North Wilmington)
  8. Egg (Rehoboth)
  9. Nomad (Wilmington)
  10. Homegrown (Newark)
  11. Big Chill Beach Club (Rehoboth)
  12. Pizza by Elizabeth's
  13. Deer Park Tavern (Newark)
  14. Greene Turtle Sports Bar & Grille (47 locations across Delmarva, including Newark, Wilmington, Newark)
  15. Buckley's Tavern
  16. Ted's Montana Grill
  17. Brandywine Brewing Company (Greenville)
  18. McGlynn's Taven (Pike Creek)
  19. Bethany Blues (Lewes & Bethany)
  20. Capers and Lemons (Wilmington)
  21. Eclipse Bistro (Wilmington)
  22. Taverna (Newark)
  23. Redfire Grill (Wilmington)
  24. Penn's Place (New Castle)
  25. Preshy's (Rehoboth)
  26. Cheer Coastal Leisure Center (Ocean View)
  27. The Big Oyster (Lewes)
  28. The Backyard (Milton)
  29. GreenMan Juice Bar (Rehoboth)
  30. Cafe Gelato

Our Straw Initiative Partners