Be alert. Ask for more information next time you get handed a compostable straw

Plastic straw bans are going into effect around the U.S. California and Washington were among the first states to nix plastic straws from restaurants in 2019. And it’s happening overseas too, in the U.K. and in the European Union.

In just the U.S. alone, one estimate suggests 500 million straws are used every single day, and as many as 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world's beaches.

Alternatives to plastic straws could be good for the environment, but they could potentially be bad news for some of us. What you need to know.

Some compostable straws are made from a material called polylactic acid plastic, or PLA. This type of plastic is most commonly derived from corn.

Other biodegradable straws are being made from chitosan which comes from marine animal shells, and is leading some businesses to warn their patrons with shellfish allergies.

And then there’s edible tableware and cutlery made from wheat bran.

Be alert. Ask for more information next time you get handed a compostable straw, or a dinner served on an “eco-friendly” brown paper plate.