Blackheath magazine editor, Lis Bastian, co-ordinated the phase out over the last few months liaising with some 30 businesses. The many cafe owners, the servo, grocers, pubs, takeaway shop and deli in the popular tourist town are now all on board.

“Globally billions of straws are thrown out each day and Blackheath alone has been throwing out 40,000 straws a month. It’s a big deal.”

Ms Bastian organised a community paper straw bulk buy and sponsorship from American manufacturer Aardvark and Australian distributor Green Pack. “Because it was a whole town response, they gave us a whole town discount.”

When stocks of the cheaper plastic straws run out, businesses in this popular tourist town will only offer the high quality waxed paper straws, while encouraging shoppers to forgo a straw completely if they don’t really need one.

“When I was a kid they were all paper [straws], in one generation plastic has taken over … plastic pollution is getting so dire.”

Ms Bastian, who is also a lecturer in environmental management, said a town in Canada had almost managed to ban the plastic straws – “but they didn’t quite get there”; another town in India was being forced to do it by government.

“Because plastic straws don't biodegrade, they are among the top plastic pollutants harming our waterways. It’s such a small thing we can do and I'm thrilled the businesses of Blackheath have worked collaboratively to achieve this milestone.”

She said it was also good for children today to see small changes can happen and matter. “We have to show them that things can be changed.”

Participants at Blackheath’s Youth Cafe had told her that “straws suck” and they would be happy to pay an extra 5c to cover the cost of a biodegradable alternative.

Victory Cafe owner Terry Tan, said he “hadn’t worked out the extra cost, but it doesn’t matter, it’s not a big deal”.

Blackheath Chamber of Commerce vice president and the owner of the Wattle Cafe, Paul Beavis, said he would look at spreading the message with the other Mountains Chambers. “The chamber is right behind it.”

Ivanhoe co-owner Kerrie Ray has also got on board. “I just go along, it’s easier.”

Ms Bastian said at the moment they were getting a box of 600 for the subsidised price of $10, but it was a lot cheaper to buy plastic at $15 for 5000 straws.

“It can’t be that business shoulders the whole cost. The idea is over time we will discourage people from using straws.” 

This story first appeared on the Blue Mountains Gazette