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County and local rules enacted to cut down on plastic pollution have returned and Holy City Straw Company is trying to do its part to help, with two types of all-natural straws that offer a “cost effective, 100% plastic-free straw alternative without sacrificing the drinking experience.” 

Holy City Straw Company debuted its gluten-free, 100% compostable wheat straws in July 2019, and less than six months later, businesses in the city of Charleston and unincorporated Charleston County areas were required to eliminate single-use plastic, including plastic straws. The company later introduced a reusable straw made from reed plant stems. (If you’ve ordered a Gamechanger at Home Team BBQ or a frozen margarita from Mex 1 Coastal Cantina in the last year or so, you’ve probably used a Holy City Straw.)

“We had a great jumpstart, and then COVID knocked us back,” said co-founder Tom Crowley. But, the company has recovered in the last few months. “All of a sudden, it’s like gangbusters.”

You’ll find Holy City Straws at Home Team, Mex 1, Huriyali, Brown Fox Coffee, Blackbird Farms & Market and Lowlife Bar, among others. And in the last two weeks, the company has “been able to acquire 15-plus local recurring accounts here in Charleston plus over 40 new nationwide mobile bars and custom branded orders,” Crowley told the City Paper this week. 

“No one likes paper straws — they ruin the drink, they fall apart, so we’ve actually been able to convert a lot of people that are trying to go eco,” Crowley said. “Our wheat- and reed-stem straws are sustainable and renewable during each harvest, and unlike other straw alternatives, our straws require minimal carbon usage during the beginning and end of life cycle and never contribute to downstream waste.” 

“We have been looking for a more sustainable straw, but ran into issues with the paper straws and our frozen drinks. They just never worked out,” said Mex 1 beverage director Morgan Hurley. “We ended up finding the reed straw from Holy City Straw, and they have been perfect for our Mex 1 frozen margaritas.”

Crowley said the majority of customers enjoy the product, but there have been some hurdles, despite the fact that the City of Charleston single-use plastic ban resumed July 1, 2020 after it paused March 20, 2020 due to the pandemic. The county followed suit, but not until earlier this month on June 8.

“Price point is the biggest hurdle,” said Crowley, adding that he tries “to work with bars and restaurants” on pricing. 

There’s also confusion surrounding the ordinance, city of Charleston director of sustainability Katie McKain told the City Paper June 11. 

“I think people heard the enforcement was trending down due to COVID, but probably didn’t realize the regulations went back into effect,” she said. 

“All of the businesses had a chance to prepare for [the ban], and then when COVID hit, that supply chain was affected significantly enough that we wanted to make sure that businesses weren’t struggling to find products,” elaborated McKain, adding that she hopes to be a resource for businesses that are still having trouble complying with regulations. “We’re sending out warning letters and making sure people know first, and we talk to them if they have questions.” 

But, when can we expect to see the elimination of single-use plastic containers, bags and straws at the majority of downtown destinations? For this to happen, the city will need help from its citizens, McKain said. 

“We kind of depend on the community to self police that,” she said, adding that folks can make a report online when they see single-use plastic at a downtown establishment. “That puts it on us to go investigate it more.” 

According to McKain, restaurants, cafes and bars must use products that are certified compostable or recyclable according to the standards set by the county’s Environmental Management Department, but as we reported June 11, penalties for violations are minimal. 

“Without anyone policing, it’s up to us to create awareness,” Crowley said. “We’re just trying to be part of the solution.”