[bots]

McDonald's new paper straws - described as "eco-friendly" by the US fast food giant - cannot be recycled.

Last year, it axed plastic straws, even though they were recyclable, in all its UK branches as part of a green drive.

But the US fast food giant says the new paper straws are not yet easy to recycle and should be put into general waste.

McDonald's says the materials are recyclable, but their thickness makes it difficult for them to be processed.

The firm switched from plastic straws to paper ones in its restaurants in the UK and Republic of Ireland last autumn.

The straws are manufactured by Transcend Packaging, based in Ebbw Vale, south Wales.

But some customers were unhappy with the new straws, saying they dissolved before a drink could be finished, with milkshakes particularly hard to drink.

"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," a McDonald's spokesman said.

The firm said it was working to find a solution, and that current advice, as first reported by The Sun, to put paper straws in general waste was therefore temporary.

"This waste from our restaurants does not go to landfill, but is used to generate energy," the company added.

A petition by irate McDonald's customers to bring back plastic straws has so far been signed by 51,000 people.

The restaurant chain uses 1.8 million straws a day in the UK, so the move to paper was a significant step in helping to reduce single-use plastic.

Some single-use plastic products can take hundreds of years to decompose if not recycled.

This McDonald's move to paper straws followed a successful trial in selected restaurants earlier in 2018.

In April 2018, the UK government proposed a ban on plastic straws and cotton buds in England.

Most straws are made from plastics such as polypropylene and polystyrene, which unless recycled, take hundreds of years to decompose.

Friends of the Earth's Julian Kirby said: "For too long the debate has been stuck on recycling and how to deal with waste once it is created. We should be thinking about how to avoid waste creation.

"Lips have been a waste-free alternative to straws for millions of years."

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-49234054

[Marsh.]

So they were already made of recyclable plastic what is the problem.

[Crimson Dynamo]

they are sh*t i know that

[Cal.]

Cos they end up in the ocean and the fish ain’t gonna recycle em are they!

The paper ones just break down easier don’t they so if they don’t end up in a recycling bin they won’t stick around for years and years and years

[Marsh.]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Cos they end up in the ocean and the fish ain’t gonna recycle em are they!

The paper ones just break down easier don’t they so if they don’t end up in a recycling bin they won’t stick around for years and years and years

Alright Bailey.

[Jordan.]

Trying to drink a milkshake through them is literally a nightmare

[Liam-]

Just give us the plastic ones back

[RileyH]

I HATE the paper straws so much

[Barry.]

I don't mind them..

[Jessica.]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Cos they end up in the ocean and the fish ain’t gonna recycle em are they!

The paper ones just break down easier don’t they so if they don’t end up in a recycling bin they won’t stick around for years and years and years

Queen of common sense

[arista]

Yes a bad Front page
showing how stupid they are.

[Tom4784]

I guess it depends on whether or not the plastic straws were being recycled because if they were just dumped then obviously something that's biodegradable would be better.

[Morgan.]

Originally Posted by Liam-

Just give us the plastic ones back

Originally Posted by RileyH

I HATE the paper straws so much

Invest in a metal straw

[Elliot]

I used one a few days ago and it meshed up before I could finish my drink

[Alf]

I just dink out of the cup, so I get a nice milkshake mustache.

[user104658]

They are so useless it's hilarious. We just keep plastic straws in the car glovebox .

[Cal.]

Originally Posted by Jessica.

Queen of common sense

Miss you queen!

[Crimson Dynamo]

do they recycl any of their stuff or does it all go in one lorry round the back?

[bots]

Originally Posted by LeatherTrumpet

do they recycl any of their stuff or does it all go in one lorry round the back?

they have separate trash bins for each type of crap on your tray. Where it goes from there is anyones guess

[Alf]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

they have separate trash bins for each type of crap on your tray. Where it goes from there is anyones guess

Recycled lettuce in your Big Mac.

[Elliot]

Originally Posted by Cal.

Cos they end up in the ocean and the fish ain’t gonna recycle em are they!

The paper ones just break down easier don’t they so if they don’t end up in a recycling bin they won’t stick around for years and years and years

they break down while ur still finishing the damn drink! all for these small steps to be more environmentally friendly but these paper straws just aren't it and need to be reworked. maybe its their plan to make the straws that bad so people bring a reusable one anyway? lol

[Glenn.]

They really aren’t that much of an issue lmao it’s a straw. How long are you people taking to drink the bloody drink for it to start breaking down? It’s never happened to me.

[Liam-]

Get rid of plastic straws and give us rancid, desolving cardboard ones, but keep the plastic lid that goes on the cup, cmon now

[Glenn.]

“Lips have been a waste-free alternative to straws for millions of years”

This kinda puts the whole thing into perspective too

[Alf]

Originally Posted by Alf

I just dink out of the cup, so I get a nice milkshake mustache.

I think my technique is the most environmentaly friendly to the planet.

I'm considerably Greener than yaou.