As of last year, an idea that affected millions of McDonald’s consumers was the axe of the plastic straw. The US fast food giant opted for new paper straws in attempt to be more “eco-friendly” as part of a green drive.
In fact, the straws prior to the new wave of paper ones were indeed recyclable opposed to the new ones; which are described as not easy to recycle and should be thrown in general waste.
Although the chain says the material is recyclable, it is far more complex to break down due to the thickness making it harder for it to be processed.
A McDonald’s spokesperson has said: “As a result of customer feedback, we have strengthened our paper straws, so while the materials are recyclable, their current thickness makes it difficult for them to be processed by our waste solution providers, who also help us recycle our paper cups.”
The idea to move from plastic straws to paper straws was not taken too well by McDonald’s customers, as the paper straws were said to dissolve before a drink was even finished.
The restaurant chain uses 1.8 million straws a day in the UK, so the move to paper was meant to be a significant step in helping to reduce single-use plastic.