McDonald's to replace plastic straws with paper ones

LONDON: McDonald’s will replace plastic straws with paper ones in all its restaurants in the United Kingdom and Ireland, starting from September, the BBC reported on Friday.

“Reflecting the broader public debate, our customers told us they wanted to see a move on straws,” McDonald’s was quoted as saying by the BBC.

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

It is the latest company to opt out of some single-use plastic products which can take hundreds of years to decompose if not recycled.

The restaurant chain uses 1.8 million straws a day in the UK.

“Reflecting the broader public debate, our customers told us they wanted to see a move on straws,” the firm said.

This decision follows a successful trial in selected restaurants earlier this year. The move to paper straws will be completed next year.

Environment Secretary Michael Gove called it a “significant contribution” to helping the environment, adding that it was “a fine example to other large businesses”.

The ban does not yet extend to the rest of the chain’s global empire, but trials will begin in selected restaurants in the US, France, and Norway.

In some other countries, straws are being offered on request only.