Wrexham businesses ditch plastic straws and join campaign to reduce plastic waste

A restaurant and nightclub in Wrexham town centre has joined the fight to reduce plastic waste by introducing paper straws.

The Fat Boar on Yorke Street, announced the move from plastic straws to paper on Saturday.

As a result straws will no longer be put into drinks automatically – instead paper straws, which are more environmentally friendly, will be available instead.

The move has been welcomed by customers and by people online, with a tweet sent by the pub being liked 115 times.

The Fat Boar told us: “We decided to get on board after seeing various videos of the damage that straws were doing to the worlds ocean and the creatures that live there. One in particular of a turtle having a straw removed from its nose can not fail to leave an impression on you.

“We’re only one business doing it but if it helps raise awareness and encourages other businesses to do it then it’s a start, only a small step but a positive step.

“The response we’ve had over the first few days has been in the main hugely positive.”

A Wrexham nightclub is also joining the movement for eco-change by banning plastic straws.

ATIK on Brook Street will offer a ‘biodegradable alternative’ instead for cocktails, mixers or soft drinks, reducing plastic consumption and its environmental impact.

General manager Mat Evans said: “We’re all about serving up a great night out but from 19th February the only straws we’ll offer to customers will be made from renewable plant sources.

“They’ll biodegrade in six months rather than hundreds of years so they won’t add to the planet’s pollution problems.

“Our customers and colleagues are more environmentally aware so I’m sure they’ll welcome the change and agree that plastic sucks.”

The move means straws will no longer be served routinely in a drink but the new biodegradable ones will be made available if needed.