Straws Upon Request Only At AP Boardwalk Restaurants
Madison Marquette Run Venues Join In Clean Water Action Program
Straws by request only will be the name of the game beginning this Memorial Day weekend at four more Asbury Park boardwalk venues.
A similar pledge kicked off in September at 
restaurateur Marilyn Schlossbach’s boardwalk venues – Langosta Lounge, Pop’s Garage, and Asbury Park Yacht Club as a part of the Surfrider Foundation’s Rise Above Plastics campaign.
This time around boardwalk redeveloper Madison Marquette has partnered with Clean Water Action to implement the latter’s Rethink Disposable program.
“Asbury Park Boardwalk and its participating restaurants have chosen to be part of the solution to marine debris, local litter, and storm water pollution,” Clean Water Action spokeswoman Jenny Vickers Chyb said in a written statement. “Through this program, we can help prevent plastic waste on our beaches and get everyone to think twice about whether they need a straw to enjoy their cool drink at the Jersey Shore. We hope Rethink Disposable will be contagious, not just in Asbury Park, but in all Jersey Shore towns.”
Participating establishments include Oyster Bar, The Anchor’s Bend, Beach Bar and the Wonder Bar.
Drinking straws will be given to customers only by request and patrons can look for the signage and educational postcards that will be located at the entrance, tabletops and the bar areas.
The Rethink Disposable program in New Jersey is funded by an agreement awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, officials said.
According to the campaign:
The nation consumes 500 million straws a day, an amount that could circle the planet more than two-and-a-half times.
Straws are made from petroleum, a toxic and polluting non-renewable resource, and are one of the top ten marine debris items found on our beaches.
There will be more plastic than fish in the ocean by 2050.
At least 690 wildlife species have encountered marine debris.
For more information about Rethink Disposable, visit www.rethinkdisposable.org.
———————————————————
Follow the Asbury Park Sun on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The Asbury Park Sun is affiliated with the triCityNews newspaper.
