McDonalds to phase out plastic straws
Fast food giant McDonalds is set to begin phasing out plastic straws within UK restaurants in a bid to help the impact on the environment.
The company will start trailing paper straws instead of plastic ones from May onwards. Straws will also be kept behind the counter and only given when requested by customers.
McDonalds currently has around 1,300 restaurants in the UK, with nearly 3.7m customers every day.
McDonald’s chief executive Paul Pomroy told Sky News:“Customers have told us that they don’t want to be given a straw and that they want to have to ask for one, so we’re acting on that.
“Straws are one of those things that people feel passionately about, and rightly so, and we’re moving those straws behind the front counter.
“If you come into McDonald’s going forward, you’ll be asked if you want a straw.
“The other thing we’re looking to do is to move to recycled paper on the straws and biodegradable paper straws and that test, I’m really proud to say, will start next month.
“The reduction in use of plastics is a hugely important issue for business, for the sector, and for society.
“We’ve been on a journey over the past 10 years with recycling, from taking out foam and polystyrene to where we are now – with Big Mac ‘clam’ boxes that are made with recycled board.
“The only thing left for us to move forward on are the lids that go on to our cups. Those are complicated, but we’re working with our suppliers to find a solution to that.
“We’re really close, so we hope within the next year to be able to have a lid that’s recyclable and serves the same purpose – for hot and cold drinks.”
