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Tofino businesses, Surfrider group rally to ban drinking straws

An environmental group and businesses in Tofino want to rid the resort community of straws, those ubiquitous plastic tubes we all use to drink soft drinks, iced coffees and other beverages.

An environmental group and businesses in Tofino want to rid the resort community of straws, those ubiquitous plastic tubes we all use to drink soft drinks, iced coffees and other beverages.

The Straws Suck campaign was launched Wednesday by Surfrider Foundation and backed by Long Beach Lodge Resort. The aim is to ban straws by Earth Day on April 22 and join other tourism destinations such as London’s Soho district, with its Straw Wars campaign, and Miami Beach.

Surfrider Pacific Rim has contacted Tofino business owners, recruited volunteers, created posters, launched a social media campaign and produced certificates for participating businesses. Video public-service announcements are also being produced using local celebrities, and biodegradable straw alternatives have been sourced.

“We chose straws because they are seemingly innocuous yet have a profound impact on our oceans and beaches,” said Michelle Hall from Surfrider Pacific Rim.

As well as adding to the litter problem, straws and other plastics kill seabirds and mammals when they entangle themselves or ingest plastics.