We are gearing up for a Strawless Summer.

Surfrider Foundation’s Eastern Long Island chapter is joining the worldwide movement to make plastic straws an item of the past. At one beach cleanup in Greenport, the Eastern Long Island Chapter removed 922 straws from the beach. If you are not convinced that straws can cause harm in the marine environment, watch this video of a sea turtle with a straw in its nose. The goal of this program is to reduce the number of plastic straws used in restaurants in Eastern Long Island. 

RESTAURANTS WILL PLEDGE TO: 

  1. Go completely Strawless
  2. Provide biodegradable (paper, bamboo) straws only upon request     OR
  3. Provide reusable alternatives to plastic (stainless steel)

Is your restaurant ready? Make the Pledge Here. 

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS:

If you are viewing on a mobile device, turn your screen sideways to see full map details.

RESTAURANTS, WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

By participating in the 2018 Strawless Summer, your business will be aligned with the Surfrider brand. Right when your restaurant signs up to participate in the Strawless Summer, we will give you a window decal, take a photo with the owner or manager to be posted on social media.

  • Website & Social Media: We plan to use our reach to promote your restaurant to our followers. Your restaurant will be placed on the interactive map on our website, which will link directly to your website & menu. 
  • Window Decal: Surfrider will provide you with a peel-off window decal that states you are participating in the 2018 Strawless Summer, and if desired, we will also provide you with literature to answer questions for
  • Local Media:  Additional articles and press releases about the Strawless Summer 2018 participants will be completed as time and availability allow.
  • Chapter Loyalty: Our chapter is always looking for places to host meetings and events, so restaurants who are making strides towards preventing plastic pollution on our fragile coast line will always be given priority. 

VOLUNTEERS,  “Volunteer Resources”

The success of this movement depends on help from volunteers. We need people like YOU to help the Chapter get restaurants to pledge and participate in Strawless Summer. Visit the “Volunteer Resources” folder above for everything needed to get a restaurant to pledge. When going about your day-to-day remember to remind your server,  “No straw, Please!” You can also  Sign this Petition asking East End restaurant supplier to provide alternatives to plastic straws.

IN THE PRESS:

LINKS TO OUR FAVORITE ALTERNATIVES:

A NOTE ON BIOPLASTICS:

While many companies are coming up with solutions to plastic pollution by introducing “compostable” and “biodegradable” bioplastics, very few if any of these new products actually degrade in the natural environment.” The BAN List 2.0 study tested a bioplastic straw’s marine degradability and found that the straw was entirely intact after 2 years in the ocean.

STRAWLESS SUMMER IS BEING DONE IN COALITION WITH:

Are you interested in starting a similar movement in your community? Check out Surfrider Foundation’s “Plastic Straws Suck” Activist Toolkit for all you need to know to help continue this world-wide movement.