Ban plastic McDonald’s happy meals toys to save the planet, minister demands
Environment minister Therese Coffey said she wished the fast food chain would ditch its much-loved plastic toys that come with kids meals because they take years to decompose in rubbish tips
MCDONALD'S should ban plastic toys from their kids Happy Meals to help save the planet, a minister has demanded.
The food chain should make "symbolic changes" to show they are ready to slash their plastic, Theresa Coffey said earlier today.
At the party's conference in Birmingham she told an audience: “I desperately want McDonald to give up their happy meal toys and change them to be all about what can you do on you iPad or smart phone, rather than a piece of plastic that lasts for about five minutes and then takes five centuries to degrade.
“So there are certain things we can get companies to do that I think would be a symbolic change, even if the amount of plastic involved is not actually that much.”
Fast food giants like McDonald's are already under threat from an extension of the latte levy on plastic takeaway materials, The Sun revealed earlier this month.
They could be set for a clobbering in the budget - with an extra 25p per cup slapped onto meal deals containing drinks.
And plastics taxes are set to hit cutlery, straws and black plastic trays too.
Ministers want to drastically slash the amount of plastic Brits use, and have vowed to hike the price of coffees to try and persuade people to use environmentally-friendly alternatives instead.
A McDonald’s spokesman said: “The reduction and use of plastics is a hugely important issue – for our business, for the sector and for society. We are committed to reducing our environmental impact and we can, and want to, be part of the solution – for example with our move from recyclable plastic straws to paper.
“We know that our Happy Meal toys provide fun for children and families playing in our restaurants, but also provide many more fun filled hours at home too. When families are finished playing with them, they can also be recycled.”
The call came just hours after Michael Gove revealed plans to help supermarkets slash waste by enabling them to give away leftover food to the poor.
GOT a story for the politics team? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk