Bamboo: Sip, sip hooray

An Albany school has taken a novel approach to reducing plastic waste, encouraging students to ditch plastic straws in favour of bamboo rods.

The project, which has reportedly sold “hundreds” of sets in Albany, started this year as one of several school-based initiatives to cut plastic waste in the lunchbox.

Plastic straws account for more than 7 per cent of all plastic litter, according to Clean Up Australia, and Yakamia Primary School Parents and Carers Association fundraiser convenor Narelle Wakefield said the project had received a positive response.

“We’re trying to get the message across the school and our community to say no to plastic straws because there are alternatives,” she said.

“The message is definitely getting across.”

Movements to eliminate single-use plastic straws have sprung up in recent years.

They often advocate for the use of metal straws.

Ms Wakefield said she believed using bamboo was a better option.

“You can use (the straws) quite a few times, and then pop them next to a plant in the garden and know they’re going to decompose into the ground,” she said.

“They’ve been sustainably planted and sourced.”