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McDonald’s ‘100 per cent recyclable’ paper straws can’t actually be recycled!

But the old plastic ones can be


McDonald's stopped using plastic straws in drinks in all its UK branches last year, in an effort to be more "environmentally friendly."

But now the company says the new paper straws are not easy to recycle due to its thickness and "should be put into general waste" instead.

The straws, which are manufactured by Transcend Packaging in Wales are recyclable, but the thickness makes it almost impossible for them to be processed.

McDonald's is working to find a solution and that the current advice to put the paper straws in general waste was "temporary."

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A McDonald's insider told The Sun: "When McDonald’s introduced paper straws it was getting pats on the back for being environmentally responsible.

“But it seems like it was a stunt to appease green campaigners because the things go straight in the rubbish. It’s ridiculously stupid.”

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

A spokesperson for McDonald's said: "This waste from our restaurants does not go to landfill, but is used to generate energy."

Friend's of the Earth's Julian Kirby commented: "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."

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