The first hurdle in a state-wide reduction of single-use plastic straws in restaurants was cleared with the passing of House Bill 558 last Tuesday.
The bill would prohibit food service businesses from providing a single-use plastic straw to a customer unless specifically requested. The bill passed by a vote of 196 to 146 and is now set to go before the Senate.
Chris Balch, a state representative from Wilton for Hillsborough District 38, was a co-sponsor of the bill. It was during a homeschool course on marine biology Balch taught last year where he learned the effects that single-use straws were having on the world’s oceans. Thanks to one of his student’s research project, Balch said he saw how important this issue was when it included statistics like 5 billion straws are used each day worldwide and only for an average of eight and a half minutes.
“It was just astonishing, so I was happy to jump on board,” Balch said. “I think it’s a good bill and a step forward.”
Up to this point, Balch said most of his concerns with single-use plastics pertained to bags, but he did some research and saw the impact the use of straws have. He connected with Judith Spang, who was sponsoring bills to change the way New Hampshire allows single-use plastic straws and bags. HB 560, which also passed by a vote of 201 to 145, would prohibit stores with more than 1,000-square feet of retail space from providing plastic carryout bags to customers.
If the bill passes through the Senate and is not vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu, it would become law on Jan. 1, 2020.
“I think the Senate will pass it, but I can’t tell you what the governor will do,” Balch said.
There are those who aren’t infavor of the bill, including House Republican Leader Dick Hinch who said through a statement: “House Democrats just passed a more stringent ban on plastic straws than California. Even California recognizes that plastic straws have a place in society, and they chose to only apply their prohibition to full-service restaurants. If this bill becomes law, and you’ re driving away from receiving your drive thru milkshake or ic ed coffee realizing you forgot to ask for a straw, just remember that even your friends in California have more straw freedom than you do here in the Live Free or Die state.”
There haven’t been any specific local ordinances put in place, but it may come to that. Portsmouth officials are considering a ban on single-use plastics, from shopping bags to straws and takeout containers. The proposal would seek to ban bags, straws and containers, and place a 10-cent fee on paper bags.
Local eateries aren’t waiting to be told to reduce the amount of single-use plastics their establishments is responsible for. Instead, places like Aesop’s Tables in Peterborough, 532 Cafe and Deli in Jaffrey and Hilltop Cafe in Wilton have all made significant efforts to change the way they do things – for the good of the environment.
When Eliza Allen and her mom Mary Jo Allen took over Aesop’s on May 1 of last year, they made the decision to get rid of plastic straws and plastic wares completely. They instead use paper straws for all drinks, while people can opt to not have one or bring their own. Most support their efforts, Allen said, but some have complained that the paper straws can get quite soggy.
“I don’t really know why plastic straws were the big push, but start with one thing I guess and hopefully it snowballs,” Allen said.
They also sell two sizes of glass straws made at Terrapin Glassblowing Studio in Jaffrey. The take out containers are recyclable, while the utensils for to go orders are wood.
“We’re just trying to cut back any way we can,” Allen said.
While Allen would like to eliminate all plastics from the business, its next to impossible with some baked goods needing to be individually wrapped.
“It’s a hard industry to not use plastic,” Allen said.
Peter Constant, owner of 532 Cafe in Jaffrey, said they still provide customers with plastic straws, but it’s not how it used to be.
“We used to supply them automatically, but now we ask them if they really want them,” Constant said.
Constant said the increase in costs for alternatives has been a deterrent for a switch over from plastic, but the conversations that come out of questioning whether someone actually needs a straw he feels is making a difference and making customers think twice.
“They see the awareness,” Constant said. “They know what’s going on.”
Michael Zielie and his wife Sandy took over Hilltop Cafe, on the grounds of the Temple-Wilton Community Farm at 195 Isaac Frye Highway in Wilton, in January.
They don’t use any plastic straws, just paper. To go containers – from Good Start Packaging in Bedford – are made of compostable, natural fibers and contain no plastics, and the same can be said about the utensils given for take out.
They also have a soup program that allows for customers to take their soup home in a mason jar for a deposit to reduce the number of containers they use.
The folks at Terrapin Glassblowing Studio are also doing their part to help out.
Glass artist Jocelyn Brown said the studio began making the glass straws about six to eight months ago and it was in response to the news about how harmful single-use plastic straws are.
Brown said they make two size straws, but the hard part is making them unique because for work flow purposes they make 20 to 30 at a time. They have been selling them at the studio and in local restaurants and so far the reponse has been promising.
“It seems like people are ready for it,” Brown said. “It’s a pretty physical way to make a statement.”