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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think McDonalds are a disgrace with recycing

56 replies

Suetully · 31/08/2021 10:34

I was in McDs yesterday and observing the amount of trays filled with paper, cardboard, plastic cups etc. just thrown in the rubbish with no signs for recycling after they eat.

I know other fast food establishments likely are no better but I say McDs as they are the market leader and would easily have the most consumers. Shouldn't they be changing this, in the light of recent reports, or what are they waiting for?

OP posts:
plodalong12 · 31/08/2021 10:36

YABU. I read recently that by 2025 McDs packaging will all be 100% recyclable. Im not sure what stats its rivals have. As you can’t get any better than 100% I’m not sure what else you expect?

Theballoonsinthesky · 31/08/2021 10:37

You can't recycle food containers that are contaminated with food/grease/oil so I guess they've had to make them biodegradable at best.

FuckingFlumps · 31/08/2021 10:38

Mcdonalds have several bins for people to separate and recycle their rubbish in.

You're blaming Mcdonalds when you should actually be blaming the lazy twats who cannot be bothered to clear their tables and recycle.

Original poster
Suetully · 31/08/2021 10:38

I read recently that by 2025 McDs packaging will all be 100% recyclable

but they aren't recycling it in the restaurants, it all goes in the bin which seems so wasteful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Suetully · 31/08/2021 10:41

Mcdonalds have several bins for people to separate and recycle their rubbish in

no they don't. It's generally the 1 bin.

OP posts:
lurker101 · 31/08/2021 10:41

They seem to be doing more than most to me. I think the Loop cups will be a great step forward!

www.mcdonalds.com/gb/en-gb/good-to-know/environment.html

FuckingFlumps · 31/08/2021 10:43

@Suetully

Mcdonalds have several bins for people to separate and recycle their rubbish in

no they don't. It's generally the 1 bin.

Yes they do. We have recycling stations in all the ones near me. They might not have them in every store but it's incorrect to say they don't have them full stop.
Mamamia7962 · 31/08/2021 10:44

OP - They have separate recycling bins at 1000 of their restaurants, and will be introducing this at other restaurants too. Their cups are paper not plastic, they use paper straws.

pleasekeeptotheright · 31/08/2021 10:46

A McDonald's bashing thread about recycling. Cool.

idontlikealdi · 31/08/2021 10:46

I disagree, compared to others they are doing quite a bit. And there are separate recycling bins in the McDonalds' near me. Still reliant on people actually bothering to put stuff in the right bin.

NannyR · 31/08/2021 10:46

I've been in three McDonald's recently and they all had bins with separate places to put empty cups, Iiquids, plastic lids and all other rubbish, to my knowledge, they've had these kind of bins for a few years. So I think they recycle the cups and lids at least.

Creamyvanille · 31/08/2021 10:48

Urgh who really cares

EvilPea · 31/08/2021 10:48

Are they still recycling their chip oil into fuel for their lorries?

LegendaryReady · 31/08/2021 10:48

You couldn't be more wrong. DS works in McDonald's and they sort the "trash" by hand to make sure recycling is done properly because they know customers can't be trusted to get it right

Original poster
Suetully · 31/08/2021 10:49

Urgh who really cares

people who care about the environment, that's who.

OP posts:
ThisBeTheName · 31/08/2021 10:51

@LegendaryReady

You couldn't be more wrong. DS works in McDonald's and they sort the "trash" by hand to make sure recycling is done properly because they know customers can't be trusted to get it right
Doesn't sound like your post will fit in with the OP's agenda! My bet is they ignore it...
FuckingFlumps · 31/08/2021 10:52

people who care about the environment, that's who.

Its clear though that Mcdonalds are included in those who care about their impact on the environment. However that doesn't fit the narrative that some have that Mcdonalds are responsible for most of the worlds problems.

Honestly a 2 minute Google search would have shown you what they do.

CheapFoodShits · 31/08/2021 10:55

McDonald's APPEAR to have recycling sections. However, I saw the cleaner in one by us open the cupboard to reveal just one bin under the recycling and non-recycling sections. She saw me looking and said "Yep, everything goes in the same one 🙄" It's all for show.

Mamamia7962 · 31/08/2021 10:55

Did you read the link OP?

Original poster
Suetully · 31/08/2021 10:57

Doesn't sound like your post will fit in with the OP's agenda! My bet is they ignore it

I don't have an agenda. I am happy to hear posts like this. I was saying what I observed yesterday in my local Mc Donalds-just 1 bin.

Honestly why does every mn thread have to turn into bitchiness and goady posts like yours?

OP posts:
tootiredtospeak · 31/08/2021 10:59

Until recently with the pandemic you had to leave you rubbish on the table for them to collect. I went in last week and it was just chaos as now people are expected to take their own but then there was a queue for the tills and to get to the bins you had to squeeze past people in the queue and people are trying to keep their distance. So rather than take the time to recycle I saw people just open up the main compartment and chuck everything in there. Hopefully it will settle down as pre pandemic you used to see people separate the paper cups and plastic tops and take much more care

ThisBeTheName · 31/08/2021 11:01

Honestly why does every mn thread have to turn into bitchiness and goady posts like yours?

Translation: "I posted in AIBU with a clear agenda and somebody disagreed with meeeee! waaaaaaahhhhhhhh" Grin

LegendaryReady · 31/08/2021 11:04

Honestly, I have been soooooo impressed by McDonalds since DS has worked there. You're targeting the wrong company OP. Not sure why you'd pick on McDonald's. I'm not a huge fan of their food (although even that is much better than some would have you believe), but:

  • Excellent training and support for new starters
  • Very impressive hygiene standards
  • Used cooking oil used to fuel lorries - Wow
  • Excellent policies in terms of recycling (despite what OP thinks she knows)
  • Far more recyclable "disposables" thank almost anywhere else
  • When they closed for Covid, before they were forced to to protect staff, they sent staff home for 2 weeks in full pay. Then once staff were furloughed kept in regular touch and really looked out for staff MH
  • Asked for volunteers to go back once they reopened. No pressure on anyone.
  • Raise £££ for charity
  • support grass roots football
  • regular litterpicking in a wide radius around each store
  • good career progress prospects for able working class staff. Degree apprenticeship offered and I forget the number, but huge % of board level and other senior staff started flipping burgers

What more do you want from a socially responsible company OP?

gardeninggirl68 · 31/08/2021 11:05

Op ... open your eyes a bit

Where you live may be a bit behind..... all Mac Donald's here have recycling bins. I know this as I work near one and see the collections from behind their restaurant

It's a recycling truck that collects! Weekly.... and they have fairly good rodent control too

Ofnorman · 31/08/2021 11:05

I don't think they're a disgrace with it at all, I think they're doing far more than most. Always more to be done though.

It can't be easy either, working with the public. You only have to read one of the (many) threads that have been on here, complaining about them switching to paper straws.

Swipe left for the next trending thread