Sea turtles are appearing more and more on the Cape, to the delight of many. With the increase in sea turtles it is now more important than ever that we protect our marine environment by reducing the use of plastic straws, which can pose a danger to sea turtles and other fish and wildlife.

Five hundred million straws are used and discarded every day in the United States alone. In the United States the consumption of straws could wrap around the earth’s circumference two and a half times a day. Unfortunately many straws don’t end up being recycled, most end up in landfills, littered on the ground or in the ocean. We need to start doing something. We need to start using less, consuming less, wasting less. We can start with straws.

There are alternatives to plastic straws. You can skip the straw completely, or you can buy a reusable straw or ask for a paper straw. Some people with disabilities may need plastic straws and they should be provided when requested.

The Cape and Islands are popular beach destinations and it is important to keep them free of plastic. Although it may not seem like a big deal removing the plastic straws from our lives, all efforts are make a difference. Reducing the use of plastic straws is an easy thing for most of us, and it can lead to other actions to reduce our use of single use plastic packaging such as bags and polystyrene foam and plastic bottles.

Tourists who visit in the summer also should given an opportunity to reduce plastic pollution. Martha’s Vineyard can be a model for environmental sustainability. So we should treat it with love and care, and start by doing this by removing the plastic straws from our home.

Grace Kenney

West Tisbury