McDonalds in the USA has announced that it is to phase out use of polystyrene cups across all its stores – a very positive move in environmental terms.
In the UK, we are all familiar with the combination of carrier bags, fast food containers and take-away cups littering our streets.
And a McDonald’s spokesperson has confirmed to H&C News that:
“McDonald’s introduced cardboard hot drinks cups in the UK in 1986. In 2011, recycled outer sleeves using post-industrial fibre board were introduced and now 40 per cent of the total cup is made from recycled materials. The cup body is made from 100 per cent virgin fibre and the inside is coated with polyethylene. Resin-based hot melt glue is used to fix the recycled outer sleeve to the cup body. Our cardboard hot drinks cups are also recyclable.”
So – it would seem that McDonald’s in the UK has actively worked to improve the recyclability of its cups, no doubt helping to persuade other high street fast food outlets to follow its example.
But – if all the cups were placed in recycling containers, we wouldn’t see them in the street. The solution must include more recycling collection bins, as well as educating the customers…