Shame of the restaurants to be so impulsive on an issue so minor as banning plastic straws. Sure it 'feels' good, but will do almost nothing to help protect the seas. It certainly will alter the drinking habits and enjoyment of thousands of consumers and tourists to St Marteen over and over.

It is estimated that St Marteen produces just 40 tons of mis-managed plastic waste per year when last measured in 2010. The total mis-managed plastic waste in the World at the same time is 31,865,274 tons. Of that the US is responsible for 275,424 tons or 0.83% of the worlds total plastic waste. The study authors estimate that no more than 30% of that ends up in the oceans. China accounts for 8,819,717 tons of plastic waste or 28% of the worlds total. Second worst is Indonesia at 3,216,856 tons of mis-managed plastic waste. Figure that 30% might go into the oceans, then in St Marteen less than 12 tons of waste slip away.

I would agree that 1 ton is too much, but lets be realistic. Banning plastic straws will have a negligible effect on the plastic waste stream. Packaging, wrapping, bags and containers are the bigger culprit. Eliminating straws makes it harder for the disabled to consume a drink. The better strategy is to work with manufacturers to eliminate plastic upstream so consumers have less to throw away into landfills (which in St Marteen we know is badly mismanaged).