In Straw Vote, Clearwater Businesses Give Plastic A Thumbs Down

CLEARWATER, FL -- You'd be hard-pressed to get a drink with a plastic straw in it at an eatery in Clearwater this summer.

According to the city. 42 businesses have signed on for Clearwater's Strawless Summer Challenge in an effort to keep plastic straws out of the environment.

With the revelation that plastic straws are responsible for the deaths of thousands of marine animals and sea birds, the Clearwater Solid Waste/Recycling Department challenged restaurants, bars, cafes and street vendors to find an alternative to plastic straws. (See related story).

"Not only is plastic waste unsightly for a relaxing stroll on the beach, but the Environmental Protection Agency has found plastic to be responsible for the death of roughly 100,000 marine mammals and 1 million sea birds every year, and plastic straws are a large contributor to this problem," said Clearwater recycling specialist Sheridan Boyle. "Americans use roughly 500 million plastic straws every single day. These plastic straws use a large amount of energy to make, are not recyclable and do not biodegrade."

For a three-month period from June 1 to Aug. 31, participating businesses are abstaining from giving plastic straws out unless requested by a customer.

Participating businesses include:

- Badfins Food + Brew
- Barefoot Beach House
- Beachfire Bar and Grill
- Bob Heilman's Beachcomber
- Bobby's Bistro & Wine Bar
- Brown Boxer Pub and Grill - North
- Brown Boxer Pub and Grill - South
- Caffeinated Bakery
- Cesare’s at the Beach
- Clear Sky Beachside Café
- Clear Sky on Cleveland
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Clearwater Yacht Club
- Clearwater Wine Bar & Bistro
- Cooters Restaurant & Bar
- Cork N Brew
- Dolce Speakeasy & Supperclub
- Emily’s Family Restaurant
- Extreme Pizza
- Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill
- Frenchy’s South Beach Café
- Frenchy’s Original Café
- Frenchy’s Saltwater Café
- Gala’s Gelateria
- Hooters - Clearwater
- Hooters - Clearwater Beach
- Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort
- Island Way Grill
- Jimmy’s Crows Nest / Pier 60 Hotel
- Jimmy's Fish House and Iguana Bar
- Jimmy’s on the Edge Hotel
- Marina Cantina
- Nature’s Food Patch
- North Beach Pub
- Pearly's Beach Eats
- Pier 60 Concessions
- Pour Yours
- Rumba Island Bar and Grill
- Salt Cracker Fish Camp
- Samgelo's Pizza On Clearwater Beach
- Sheraton Sand Key Resort / Rusty’s Bistro
- Speggtacular
- Tropics Boat Tour

Image via city of Clearwater

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