HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2018.07.19 - 23669MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #18269
BY: Commissioner Marcia Gershenson, District #13
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORTING THE "ON REQUEST" USE OF PLASTIC
DRINKING STRAWS BY OAKLAND COUNTY BUSINESSES TO REDUCE WASTE
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the average person in the United States uses 1.6 straws per day, resulting in 500 million plastic
straws being disposed of daily. This equates to enough trash to circle the earth 2.5 times; and
WHEREAS a 2017 study by the University of California found that 91% of plastic is not recycled, polluting
oceans and landfills; and
WHEREAS there is an estimated 79,000 tons of plastic waste in the North Pacific Ocean, referred to the
Great Pacific Garbage Patch, and is estimated to be larger than Alaska at 500,000 square miles; and
WHEREAS each year one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals die from ingested plastic. Of that,
12,000 tons of plastic end up in the digestive system of fish, hurting our food chain; and
WHEREAS plastic straws release toxins that remain in our environment and take up to 200 years to
decompose; and
WHEREAS paper straws are a better option because they are biodegradable and decompose within 45-60
days; and
WHEREAS straws are becoming taxed, banned, and boycotted worldwide. At least 3,000 people from over
44 countries have signed the "OneLessStrawPledge," vowing not to use straws for 30 days; and
WHEREAS Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Bon Appetit, Starbucks, and SeaWorld Entertainment have
pledged to remove plastic straws from their businesses; and
WHEREAS businesses offering plastic straws on a request basis helps reduce straw usage by 40%; and
WHEREAS Oakland County businesses should become involved in the movement to reduce plastic waste,
keep chemical toxins out of the environment and preserve a healthy food chain.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners supports
Oakland County businesses offering plastic straws only on request to customers to aid in reducing plastic
and its effects on our health, our environment and our oceans.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
Con'imissioner Marcia Gershenson
District #13
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Resolution #18269 July 19, 2018
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.