Seminole Tribe joins growing movement against plastic straws

Thursday, August 9, 2018  

Patrons at casinos owned by the Seminole Tribe will no longer be using plastic straws by September 1.

The six Seminole casinos in Florida are joining the growing movement against plastic straws. and the waste they generate. Customers will be able to request more "earth-friendly" ways to enjoy their beverages.

"Seminole Gaming has a long history of sustainability programs, and we are pleased to add more earth-friendly straws and to go bags to the list," Tracy Bradford, the senior vice president of purchasing for Hard Rock International, the global entertainment giant owned by the tribe, said in a press release on Thursday.

"Seminole Gaming restaurants already utilize reusable, recyclable or eco-friendly to go containers," Bradford continued. "As the gaming operation of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Seminole Gaming is proud to help make a difference in conscientious sustainability practices – it's the right thing to do."

Straws might not be the biggest threat to the #AnacostiaRiver, but banning them is a big step in rethinking our consumption of single use plastics. #OurLastStraw #StopSuckingDC https://t.co/ujjtYwqtuH pic.twitter.com/br4w138AEW

— Anacostia Watershed Society (@anacostiaws) July 19, 2018

Hard Rock is also joining the cause, though it will be a much harder one to implement. The firm is pledging to eliminate plastic straws at its venues in 75 countries around the world.

"One of Hard Rock's founding mottos is to 'Save the Planet', and this is only an extension of the commitment we made to do just that 47 years ago," Bradford said.

Hard Rock isn't alone in the quest either. Starbucks will be eliminating plastic straws starting this year.

A growing number of municipalities are also banning plastic straws, or are considering bans on an item linked to waste, particularly in waterways. Conservation groups also point out that straws harm wildlife, with a 2015 video of one being removed from a turtle still racking up views on YouTube.