Plastic, the material used every day for grocery bags, straws and glitter, takes decades to biodegrade. After we throw plastic trash away, it breaks down into tiny particles called microplastics, which make their way to the ocean, and are ingested by sea creatures like plankton, fish, birds and turtles. The microplastics then plug their stomachs, killing them. In fact, scientists have found plastic inside the stomachs of sea creatures from the deepest parts of the ocean.
Between the early 1950's and 2015, humans produced over 8.3 billion tons of plastic trash, according to a study by the University of Georgia. Of that total waste, 6.3 billion tons of plastic - was just thrown away, accumulating in landfills and the natural environment. Alarming reports like these prompted fast food McDonald's to make a major announcement: replacing plastic straws with paper alternatives at all of its restaurants in the UK and Ireland.
"Reflecting the broader public debate, our customers told us they wanted to see a move on straws but to do so without compromising their overall experience when visiting our restaurants," McDonald's CEO Paul Pomroy said last June. "Over the past few months we've been working closely with supplier partners to find a solution that works both for our customers, and that the supply is there given the size of our business."
However, some fast food fans are not happy about the paper straws, which allegedly dissolve in drinks rapidly. Outraged over this first world problem, and apathetic over plastic trash's damage to marine life, more than 30,000 people have signed a petition demanding the return of plastic straws.
"Absolutely useless, they get soggy and end up giving off a cardboard taste to the drink you have, no point in having a paper straw with a plastic lid, much rather have a paper lid and a plastic straw," Kim K. commented under 'Reasons for signing.' Melissa M. agreed, writing, "They’re more like cardboard and it leaves it all soggy and wet when you next go to sip it, the straw comes apart, it’s like pouring water over your burger, disgusting."
Several other milkshake lovers tweeted colorful complaints, with photos of warped paper straws.
Others criticized the critics, claiming this is much ado about nothing.
In response, a McDonald's spokesperson told The Mirror: "Our suppliers have made us paper straws that last at least 30 minutes in most, if not all liquids. They were introduced following customer feedback, and we are pleased to be doing the right thing in removing plastic from our stores."
