Players in Atlantic City are seeing this message when they insert their Total Rewards card into a slot machine.

One problem with paper straws is that they require the paper cover.  I'm guessing this necessitates more steps in the manufacture of the product, adding to the cost.  A nice feature of the paper straw is the little bendy accordian-like section.  This enables one to drink in a reclining position easier than using the straight plastic straw.  The kinder of our species know this when assisting the frail elderly or sick friend/relative with fluid intake.  But then, the paper cover no doubt results in some degree of littering.  Can't win this one either way.

I used to drink out of paper straws all the time when I was a kid. I don't really see them anymore.  If you are just looking at the cost of the straw you are missing the boat.

It is the old economic free rider problem. The businesses using the plastic straws save a few pennies per-straw but the public pays the real cost of the non-biodegradable straws. (The cost of picking up the straws, cleaning the beaches, the landfill costs and so on.)

According to the Chicago Tribune plastic straws make up less than .003% of the world's plastic garbage, while Asia accounts for 95%.

Much ado about nothing

Actually the answer to re-cyclable straws is Bucatini.

Bucatini, also known as perciatelli , is a thick spaghetti-like pasta with a hole running through the center. The name comes from Italian: buco, meaning "hole", while bucato or its Neapolitan variant perciato means "pierced".

You can thank the Mrs. for the answer, she made bucatini with Sunday "Gravy" last night.

I found this interesting.  Demand for paper straws is up 5000%.