Manly restaurant Hemingway’s replaces plastic straws with reusable metal straws

HEMINGWAY’S in Manly has adopted a new policy on straws — plastic ones have been replaced with reusable metal straws.

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PLASTIC was the last straw for one Sydney restaurant which has decided to introduce reusable metal drinking straws.

Manly beachfront Hemingway’s has banned the use of plastic straws swapping the popular drinking implement for metal ones.

Eco-friendly restaurant manager Tom Schoeb made the eco-friendly decision.

“My girlfriend and I always take at least three pieces of rubbish when we leave the beach,” Mr Schoeb said.

“I had heard about the Take 3 campaign, if everyone did it, the beaches would be clean.”

Hemingway’s manager Tom Schoeb with a juice and a new metal straw. Picture: Braden Fastier

Hemingway’s now uses 100 metal straws for its fresh juices and cocktails.

“We bought them online,” he said.

“They work very well and don’t affect the taste of a drink.”

Metal straws are more expensive, but they can be recycled, Mr Schoeb said.

“We put them in the dishwasher and reuse them,” he said.

“So far none of the customers have stolen them.”

The last straw ... Malin Frick from WildAware and Tom Schoeb. Picture: Braden Fastier

Malin Frick, from local environmental group WildAware, said that plastic straws made up approximately 40 per cent of beach litter and had a big impact on marine life.

“They are one of the most littered items in Australia,’ she said.

“They generally account for about 40 per cent of what is found on beach clean ups.”

Ms Frick said that it was not unusual to find more than 500 straws on a 90-minute beach clean up.

Hemingway’s will organise its own beach clean up on April 3. Meet at the North Steyne venue at 4pm to pick up buckets, gloves and claws. Volunteers will get a free 4 Pines beer and snacks after the clean up, Mr Schoeb said.

Details, 9976 3030.