In fall of 2018 Towson University made the smart decision to eliminate straws from being distributed by dining services on campus. It’s been brought to our attention that some students want straws back on campus after less than 1 semester of this new policy being in place. 

            The decision to eliminate straws on campus significantly reduces the amount of plastic accumulating in landfills and on shorelines. It’s estimated that 500 million straws are disposed of every day in the U.S. and over 7 million straws pollute U.S. shorelines.

            Why would we want to continue to use plastic straws when there are so many alternatives to using a straw? Manufacturers have created compostable, paper, steel, silicone, bamboo, and glass straws alternatives for those who prefer the option of having a straw with beverages.

            By bringing straws back onto campus we are taking 5 steps backward from our initial progress, let's make sustainable choices for Towson University.