SANIBEL, Fla. — Joey's Custard in Sanibel starts using pasta straws, instead of paper and plastic, to help reduce to use of plastic on the island.
They call it eco-pasta. It was created by Sammy Ramirez, who came up with the idea because he says he says he's been a huge supporter of the single use plastic straw ban after seeing the damage and mess it's left on the beach.
"People don't expect it when you first give it to them. They're kind of looking at it like, what is this?" said Joey Almeida, the owner of Joey's Custard.
We're told the straws are biodegradable after 72 hours, edible, reusable and tasteless.
Kevin Ruane, the Mayor of Sanibel said, "Any decrease in plastic usage will obviously afford us the opportunity to not have that plastic end up in our waterways."
The city passed a resolution today to help reduce the use of plastic on the island, specifically the use of plastic bags.
Joey Almeida said, "With the affects of red tide last year and with the water crisis in general going on in Florida, there's so much focus on what we can be doing to be proactive."
According to Mayor Ruane, the whole island looks to be completely plastic free in the future.
The month of July is also Plastic Free July, a global movement that's inspired millions to stop using single plastics.
