An environmentalist in Pingtung County is promoting the use of drinking straws made from reeds as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic straws.
Spurred by restrictions on the use of plastic straws that are to come into effect next month, a number of companies have proposed biodegradable alternatives, such as straws made from reinforced paper or pasta.
However, many such products have met with challenges, such as a higher cost of production or an inability to retain rigidity when submerged in liquids for a long time.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jo, Taipei Times
Environmentalist Chen Chiao-yu (陳喬妤), who frequently hosts activities along the riverside in the county’s Wanluan Township (萬巒), on Sunday said that she has come up with the idea of making straws out of the reeds that grow along the river.
Phragmites karka — commonly known as “tropical reed,” or “flute reed” — grows in areas with shallow water, such as river banks. They grow up to 4m tall and look like bamboo.
Because of their sturdy bamboo-like structure, the reeds are used for construction in many cultures, and the stalks can be used to make other items, such as curtains and flutes, and can even be used as an ingredient in cooking.
Photo: Chiu Chih-jou, Taipei Times
Reeds are a perfect alternative to plastic straws, as they are biodegradable, sturdy and easily hollowed out, Chen said.
Chen said that she teaches visitors how to make their own straws from reeds by cutting them into short segments and then hollowing them out with chopsticks.
The hollowed-out center can be up to a 2.5cm in diameter, making them even usable for drinks that contain tapioca balls, environmentalist Lin Yu-ching (林雨青) said.
Reed straws can be washed and reused countless times and would make a great product for environmentally conscious people, she added.
The Sports Administration yesterday demanded an apology from the national table tennis association for barring 17-year-old Yeh Yi-tian (葉伊恬) from competing in the upcoming World Table Tennis (WTT) United States Smash tournament in Las Vegas this July. The sports agency said in a statement that the Chinese Taipei Table Tennis Association (CTTTA) must explain to the public why it withdrew Yeh from the WTT tournament in Las Vegas. The sports agency said it contacted the association to express its disapproval of the decision-making process after receiving a complaint from Yeh’s coach, Chuang
The Hualien Branch of the High Court today sentenced the main suspect in the 2021 fatal derailment of the Taroko Express to 12 years and six months in jail in the second trial of the suspect for his role in Taiwan’s deadliest train crash. Lee Yi-hsiang (李義祥), the driver of a crane truck that fell onto the tracks and which the the Taiwan Railways Administration's (TRA) train crashed into in an accident that killed 49 people and injured 200, was sentenced to seven years and 10 months in the first trial by the Hualien District Court in 2022. Hoa Van Hao, a
Control Yuan Secretary-General Lee Chun-yi (李俊俋) tendered his resignation last night, admitting that he had misused a government vehicle, as reported by media. His resignation was immediately accepted by the Control Yuan. In a statement explaining why he had resigned, Lee apologized for using a Control Yuan vehicle to transport his dog to a pet grooming salon on May 20. The issue first came to light late last month, when TVBS News reported that Lee had instructed his driver to take the dog to the salon. The news channel broadcast photos that it said were taken by an unnamed whistle-blower, which purportedly showed the
Taipei has once again made it to the top 100 in Oxford Economics’ Global Cities Index 2025 report, moving up five places from last year to 60. The annual index, which was published last month, evaluated 1,000 of the most populated metropolises based on five indices — economics, human capital, quality of life, environment and governance. New York maintained its top spot this year, placing first in the economics index thanks to the strength of its vibrant financial industry and economic stability. Taipei ranked 263rd in economics, 44th in human capital, 15th in quality of life, 284th for environment and 75th in governance,
RSS