McDonald’s Has a Problem Recycling its Paper Straws

After eliminating plastic straws and replacing them with paper straws in all its branches across the United Kingdom, McDonald’s is now saying its new paper straws are too difficult to recycle and should be discarded with general waste until it works to find a solution.

When some customers were unhappy with the new straws, claiming they dissolved before a drink was finished, McDonald’s made the switch to thicker, more durable paper straws. Now, however, the fast food chain claims the “current thickness” makes the straws difficult to process at waste facilities, according to BBC News.

BBC News has more information:

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.

Read the full article here.