Plastic straws can technically be recycled. The problem is that they are small, thin, and bend easily. This is a problem because they easily fall into the cracks and crevices of recycling machinery. Because of this, most recyclers do not accept plastic straws, and most straws that do make it to a recycling facility do not become recycled. Therefore plastic straws belong to waste bin.

In just the U.S. alone, one estimate suggests 500 million straws are used every single day. The best solution is to skip the straw entirely. If you must use straw, choose reusable straws from sustainable materials like stainless steel, glass or bamboo.