Disney to eliminate plastic straws, hotel in-room plastics and plastic shopping bags

[Minniefan2296]

Couldn't you just use paper straws, like at Animal Kingdom? I'm sure Disney will be providing those, versus eliminating straws entirely.

For that matter... how do you manage at Animal Kingdom? They've never had straws, AFAIK.

Paper straws are disgusting.

 

[kaytieeldr]

So no straws at all? They better provide

o now we have to purchase shopping bags? They better offer

So no throw away cups in the rooms? They better offer

They better? Or what?

I think they raised some legitimate concerns.

Legitimate concerns, perhaps, but "they better...", "they better...", "they better..." ?

and possibly their own coffee stirrers.

Wood. Wood shifters have been around for ages.

I would hope they would offer paper bags as an alternative to purchasing a reusable bag... or maybe some kind of incentive - purchase at least $25 of merchandise & get a free reusable bag.

They won't. People will (ab)use the bags and leave them in unusable condition to for the next occupant.

 

[kdonnel]

I fear we are falling victim to Greenwashing by Disney.

Disney is painting themselves as green without any real proof that their actions will actually benefit the environment in a positive manner.

My company recently made a big switch to only using commercially compostable plates and silverware in the onsite cafeteria. The only problem is what commercially compostable means. It does not mean that you can throw it in a landfill and it will perform any better then traditional plastic silverware. In fact once sealed into a landfill a commercially compostable fork and a traditional plastic fork both remain in their current state forever.

Something that is commercially compostable must be sent to a commercial composter to actually compost. It is a clearly defined process that takes months. My company just sends it to the dump.

I have a friend who is an engineer specializing in helping building owners reach different levels of LEED certification. He said none of the hundreds of owners he has worked with were at all concerned with helping the environment. They just wanted to make sure they got all the check marks needed for LEED certification, the more loopholes that could be used, the better. It is all about appearing to be environmentally friendly.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I heard people were already lining up and camping out overnight to get their free ziplock bag.

Well if it was Hefty or Baggies, I'm there.

Ziploc gives Disney money as a sponsor. They make money off the deal. Them not having to hand out plastic bags and charge for bags saves them money.

Disney doesn't have to hand out anything. And a few baggies isn't going to even remotely come close to the amount they're getting rid of by not using cups and bags at stores and eateries.

 

[Skippyboo]

When are the sporks coming then you can eliminate a 1/3 of plastic silverware?

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

Yep they better.
Or I won't purchase drinks or shop or use the cups. Dont think I won't.
I'll still go just won't do those things so yep that's my opinion on it no lie.
Now you can all move on with your own opinions that I have not judged you for.

 

[Southernmiss]

I saved our blue Disney bags to pack away Christmas decorations. Always makes me smile to unpack Christmas items and my Disney ornaments from those bags.

I saved several small Disney shampoo bottles and refill them with my own shampoo.

I am glad to see companies use biodegradable materials. Every little bit helps.

 

[CarolAnn856]

I bet there will be more ppl upset than you think especially those with little kids who are caught off guard. The average person doesn’t keep up with Disney news & info. Like a pp said, I feel sorry for the CMs!

Eh, paper straws and not offering grocery bags are becoming more and more common. And if anyone is taken by surprise, I doubt enough will decide to ditch the purchase they were in the process of making to be a significant loss in revenue. But I do agree, the CM's will have one more thing to deal with.

 

[EveDallas]

If Disney truly cared about reducing plastic, they'd stop selling bottled water. But that would cut into their profits, so that won't happen. This is nothing but a way for them to cut costs and pretend like they care about being "green".

 

[CarolAnn856]

Yep they better.
Or I won't purchase drinks or shop or use the cups. Dont think I won't.
I'll still go just won't do those things so yep that's my opinion on it no lie.
Now you can all move on with your own opinions that I have not judged you for.

Cool. One less person in line in front of me.

 

[CarolAnn856]

If Disney truly cared about reducing plastic, they'd stop selling bottled water. But that would cut into their profits, so that won't happen. This is nothing but a way for them to cut costs and pretend like they care about being "green".

I agree. But, I'm still glad that at least some of the waste will be eliminated, even if it's for the wrong reasons.

 

[Sabeking]

I’m confused. So if you are in a park and buy a handful of items they won’t give you a plastic bag? You have to pack one or buy a reusable?

 

[VandVsmama]

Are the reusable bags going to be waterproof? Or are your purchases going to get wet?

I have no idea if they're going to charge for reusable bags or not. I made up the prices. It was meant to be tongue-in-cheek not to be taken seriously.

 

[Hikergirl]

They are going to offer guests the option of purchasing a reusable bag at a nominal fee.
Of course "nominal" to Disney may not be "nominal" to the rest of us.

 

[Minniefan2296]

I’m confused. So if you are in a park and buy a handful of items they won’t give you a plastic bag? You have to pack one or buy a reusable?

Yep.

 

[Kellykins1218]

I'll be the naysayer. I hate this crusade against straws because I really don't enjoy cold drinks without one, and I read "no more plastic bags" as a hard-upsell of reusable bags which are, in my experience, usually not good for more than a couple of uses before they fall apart anyway. Which isn't so bad when it is a 99¢ bag from the grocer but we all know Disney's bags aren't going to come at "real world" prices

The ones at the Disney Store are inexpensive. I doubt the parks’ ones will cost more.

 

[LSUmiss]

If Disney truly cared about reducing plastic, they'd stop selling bottled water. But that would cut into their profits, so that won't happen. This is nothing but a way for them to cut costs and pretend like they care about being "green".

Great point! In fact, from what I understand that represents a huge portion of what fills the landfills. Not just water bottles....soft drinks, Powerade, juices, etc.

 

[brockash]

Couldn't you just use paper straws, like at Animal Kingdom? I'm sure Disney will be providing those, versus eliminating straws entirely.

For that matter... how do you manage at Animal Kingdom? They've never had straws, AFAIK.

I guess I missed the part where they said they would be providing paper straws - have they, is there a link somewhere that states that? If so, then that's not as bad, although do they offer lids or just open cups with paper straws? If there's lids and paper straws, not such a big deal, but if no lids... then basically back at square one with the inconvenience and the spills issue. Honestly, AK is by far the park we've spent the least amount of time in in the last decade, so I can't remember if there are lids, but I'm thinking no...how we've managed is that we spend maybe a half a day there e very other year, as opposed to multiple days every year at the other parks.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I’m confused. So if you are in a park and buy a handful of items they won’t give you a plastic bag? You have to pack one or buy a reusable?

Yes hence why I said I will either purchase and send to my resort or will only pur have at my resort so I cant take it directly to my room and apparently people have a problem with my opinion.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

I have no idea if they're going to charge for reusable bags or not. I made up the prices. It was meant to be tongue-in-cheek not to be taken seriously.

The article says they are charging for bags.