Are PLA Straws Plastic? Are They Banned Under Straw Laws?
Yes, PLA straws are a plastic, just one made from plants. In several states that matters. Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont treat bioplastic or compostable plastic straws, including PLA, the same as regular plastic, so they can only be handed out on request.
A lot of businesses switched to PLA straws thinking "compostable" meant "exempt." In those states, it doesn't. Here's how it breaks down.
Are PLA straws plastic?
PLA (polylactic acid) is a plastic made from plants, usually corn. It looks and feels like regular plastic. It's labeled compostable because it can break down in an industrial compost facility, but it's still a plastic resin, and it doesn't break down well in a backyard pile, a landfill or the ocean. We wrote more about this in why bioplastics are not (yet) the solution.
Are PLA straws banned? States where they count as plastic
In Oregon, under SB 90, food and beverage providers can give single-use plastic straws only on request, and bioplastic straws count as plastic. Non-plastic straws can be offered freely.
In Rhode Island, plastic straws are on request only, and they can't sit in self-serve dispensers. Bioplastic straws count as plastic. Non-plastic straws like paper, wheat or bamboo can go in dispensers.
In Vermont, food service establishments can't provide single-use plastic straws, including compostable plastic straws, unless a customer asks.
Rules elsewhere vary. Delaware's law, for example, expressly allows compostable straws that aren't made from plastic. Check your state on our straw laws by state map, which links to each official source.
Why it matters day to day
If PLA counts as plastic where you are, your staff have to wait for guests to ask, and in Rhode Island you can't put them in a self-serve caddy. A straw with no plastic in it at all skips the whole question.
A straw that isn't plastic at all
Original HAY! Straws are single wheat stems with no resin, binder or coating. Our Standard Reed and Wide Jumbo straws are cut reed stems. None of them contain plastic, and unlike PLA they won't soften in hot drinks.
Price-wise they're close to what many places pay for PLA. A 3,000-straw case of Original Cocktail 5" is $99, and a 1,500-straw case of Standard Reed Martini 6" is $99. Our straw calculator shows your monthly cost based on your own volume.
The bottom line
"Compostable" on the box doesn't make a straw non-plastic under the law in Oregon, Rhode Island or Vermont. If you want to offer straws freely, choose one with no plastic in it. Request a free sample to try ours.
Quick answers
Are paper straws allowed in Oregon and Rhode Island?
Yes. Paper, wheat, reed and bamboo straws are non-plastic, so they can be offered without a request, including from self-serve dispensers in Rhode Island.
Do PLA straws break down in home compost?
Generally not well. Most PLA needs the heat of an industrial compost facility, and many areas don't have one that accepts it.
Is PLA plastic?
Yes. It's made from plants, but it's still a plastic resin, which is why several states treat it the same as regular plastic.
What about California?
California's AB 1884 focuses on single-use plastic straws in full-service restaurants. Check your city too, since local rules can be stricter.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with your state or city.
