The Gwinnett Stripers are joining a national movement to eliminate the use of plastic straws and drink lids, the minor league baseball team announced.
Single-use plastic straws and lids will no longer be available at Coolray Field starting on the Stripers’ opening night, April 4. Exceptions will be made for guests with special needs, and there will be limited quantities of straws and lids available for those guests, according to a team press release.
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The decision was made in conjuction with the team’s concessions partner Professional Sports Catering. The concessions provider to the San Francisco Giants previously announced a plastic straw ban for the team’s AT&T Park, and coffee chain Starbucks is planning to phase out plastic straw use by 2020.
The movement against single-use plastic straws is driven by environmental concerns; the straws do not biodegrade quickly and can become harmful litter in bodies of water. The Stripers cite the team’s proximity to Lake Lanier and a “new commitment to environmental responsibility” as reasons for their move away from plastic straws and lids.
“With waterways like Lake Lanier so vital to the prosperity of Gwinnett County and North Georgia, we feel it is our responsibility to minimize our environmental impact on the community,” said Stripers Vice President and General Manager Adam English in a team press release. “The Stripers and PSC will continue to seek ways to be leaders in environmental sustainability and awareness.”
The Stripers plan to continue their new environmental effort by giving away eco-friendly items at upcoming games. The first 500 guests can receive a reusable tote bag on April 15, a reusable straw on July 15 and reusable water bottles on July 29. The first 2,5000 guests to enter the stadium for the April 27 game will receive mason jar cups.
The Stripers’ newly strawless season opens on April 4 at 7:05 p.m. against the Norfolk Tides. Coolray Field is located at 2500 Buford Drive in Lawrenceville.
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