SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) –– 500,000,000 straws are used each day in the United States, according to the Plastic Pollution Coalition.
Cafe Kubal is joining the movement to put that to an end. Operations Manager Rachael Smith said the decision to remove straws from all shops was made quite a long time ago. Now inventory is beginning to run out, and customers are taking notice of the change. Smith, an environmental science major in college, takes credit for the decision and said she know how important it is to reduce waste.
“The impact we can have as consumers is huge on all parts of the world including where the producers come from,” Smith said, referring to the tropical regions that rely on a steady climate to grow coffee. Cafe Kubal uses beans from Brazil, Ethiopia, Papa New Guinea, Guatemala and more.
The move away from straws has drawn criticism from some communities.
“The argument I’ve heard against it is there are some people with disabilities who actually need straws of some descript,” said Rosanna Moore, a Kubal customer, “So I think have something available, even if it’s not a plastic straw, might be worth looking into.”
Kubal will have paper straws available on location for those who need or want them. Regular plastic tops will replace straws on Kubal’s iced beverages. The geometric fit was completely coincidental, and started as a barista’s trend, according to Smith.
Straw elimination isn’t the only strategy the company has employed to preserve the environment. It also partners with a composting company, to whom they give their used beans to dispose of. Smith plans on constructing an elaborate four year sustainability for Cafe Kubal.
