Travel
Travel

SeaWorld bans plastic bags, straws from 12 theme parks

A new bill introduced in the Florida House of Representatives would force SeaWorld to back up its pledge to stop breeding killer whales in its facilities. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)

Credit: Joe Burbank

Credit: Joe Burbank

A new bill introduced in the Florida House of Representatives would force SeaWorld to back up its pledge to stop breeding killer whales in its facilities. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/TNS)
By Gabrielle Russon
Updated June 12, 2018

ORLANDO, Fla. — To protect the environment, SeaWorld Entertainment has removed all single-use straws and plastic bags from the company’s 12 theme parks, including those in Orlando.

The Orlando-headquartered company made the announcement Friday in a news release.

“We see the harmful effects of plastic pollution in the animals we rescue and rehabilitate, and therefore, recognize the importance of doing our part to curb plastic pollution,” interim CEO John T. Reilly said in a statement.

The Ocean Conservancy, a nonprofit environmental advocacy group, estimates that 8 million metric tons of plastics end up in the ocean every year, SeaWorld said in the release.

“The process has been ongoing for a few years,” SeaWorld spokesman Travis Claytor said about reducing plastic waste. “This has been something we’ve been working toward.”

About the Author

Gabrielle Russon
More Stories

The Latest

Patti O’Furniture talks with people at Boyd Plaza during the Arts and Draughts event at the Columbia Museum of Art on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2025. The veteran drag queen led tours of the Keith Haring exhibit during the museum’s biannual block party with live music, D.I.Y. art projects, scavenger hunts, art tours, and beer. (Sean Rayford for the AJC)

Columbia, where the South drops the act

Savor the flavor of Bardstown, Kentucky, heart of the Bourbon Trail

Birmingham’s robust trail system beckons urban outdoor adventurers

Featured

A MARTA operator is seen inside the control room of one of the new MARTA trains during the unveiling of these trains on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

MARTA chief says new train cars give smooth, quiet ride

Interim CEO Jonathan Hunt told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s editorial board he is focused on project delivery, which he said is key to winning back public trust.

God’s Acre: Former Native American boarding school reveals complex history

A Native American boarding school established by Moravian missionaries in North Georgia in the early 19th century reveals a complicated and compelling history.

Why Midtown’s holiday lights display is a little less vibrant this year

Midtown Bright, the annual winter lights display, was cut back this year.