Wish there were better ways to recycle. I find myself using re-usable glass/plastic containers for storing food instead of single-use ziplock bags. I like to see companies ditching plastic straws, lids, and cups. The other day I was in a tea shop in Columbus OH and the store gave me a plastic cup with a paper straw. It's like they gave effort but didn't really think the whole thing through since they still gave me plastic in the form of a cup..... I suppose its progress... meh.
The straw stuff is supposed to be about the size of the straw and their propensity to get into the environment and hurt animals. Cups don’t have the same effect.
(That said, my understanding is the straw research is based on a 5th grade science project and most of the straws that reach the environment are from third world countries that don’t have good landfills or waste disposal systems...)
I wash them, as long as they haven't held something that could be an issue. For example, this morning I used the last muffin in a freezer bag. As part of the morning washing up I did that bag, and it will take an hour or so to dry, and then I'll use it for muffins again.
