Starbucks said it uses more than 1 billion single-use plastic straws a year. Lee said that large volume users such as fast-food chains can't afford to use paper straws because the cost is four times that of plastic straws. It's more environmental friendly than paper straws because paper straws use more paper (trees) and contain glue and wax," he said. McDonald's has said it would switch to paper straws in the UK and Ireland by next year and test alternatives to plastic straws in some US locations. Hyatt Hotels on Monday announced that starting in September hotel visitors will have to request single-use plastic straws.