High-street chains remove their plastic

 High street coffee chains and restaurants are rushing to take plastic straws and stirrers off their shelves ahead of any legal ban.

Starbucks has removed all straws and plastic cutlery from shops to encourage customers to request them, and Mcdonald’s will trial paper straws in some restaurants from next month.

Many other companies have made pledges on straws after Michael Gove, the Environment Secretary, said a ban – which would only be in force in England – could be in place by the end of this year, rather than next year as had been thought.