Businesses are being asked to do more at their own costs to reduce landfill.
Huge parts of the NSW retail sector face the possibility of cost blowouts that could have flow-on impacts to the commercial property market under new environmental food waste regulations set to be rolled out later this year.
McDonald’s has even started phasing out straws for its McCafe orders, which could form part of its reduced waste program, however it is understood they can still be requested.
Additionally to reduced commercial waste, the NSW Government will impose new restrictions on businesses that handle food from July 1, requiring them to separate food and general rubbish.
The restrictions will not just cover traditional cafes, restaurants and fast food outlets but numerous other sectors that handle food including supermarkets, correctional facilities, childcare centres and hotels.
The changes will initially target businesses with larger waste generation before gradually taking in smaller waste generators over the next four years.
While the NSW Government claims businesses can save on the costs of sending waste to landfill under the new regulations, there is no arguing those same businesses will also be footing costs to make the scheme work.
Sustainability consultancy firm SLR confirmed the responsibility for launching the scheme would sit with businesses.
Businesses in NSW will have to separate their food waste from July.
“Building managers and facility operators will need to provide bins for separated food waste, identify and make available storage space for separated food waste, train cleaners and staff to identify and separate food appropriately, engage a contractor – or negotiate with the existing contractor – to collect separated food waste,” SLR’s Andrew Quinn said on the firm’s website.
The additional waste costs for NSW businesses comes at a time when many are already struggling to make ends meet in competitive online markets that put continued pressure on traditional bricks-and-mortar premises.
The huge food waste push in NSW comes as numerous fast food outlets take other environmental initiative to reduce waste and phase out harmful plastics.
Major outlets like McDonald’s and Hungry Jack’s have already transitioned from plastic straws to paper and are now going a step further by phasing out straws completely for some drinks.
A new style of lid introduced on some McDonald’s drinks means straws are no longer issues to customers automatically.
The new sippable lids are designed to reduce waste while also being made from recyclable plastics.
The introduction caused confusion among McDonald’s customer perplexed about the lack of straws with their orders.
Plastic straws at McDonald’s are a thing of the past and paper straws might be going the same way already.
3AW’s Jacqui Felgate posted a message from an anonymous listener that highlighted the confusion.
“My son went to McDonald’s in Mernda and didn’t get a straw. When he asked, they said we dint [sic] give out straws anymore,” the listener said.
“And I said actually I got McDonald’s drove [sic] thru yesterday’s and I didn’t get a straw either.”
The revelation sparked a wave of comments from Aussies who had experienced the same confusion.
A McDonald’s spokesman confirmed the change but said straws were not gone completely.
“We can confirm that straws are provided with soft drinks, shakes and frozen beverages across our restaurants,” the spokesman said.
“Some drinks in our new McCafé beverage range, as well as iced McCafé drinks, are now served without a straw by default, as they have a specially designed lid that allows them to be sipped for a better customer experience.
“Customers can still request a straw at any time – which we are happy to provide.”