A&W Food Services of Canada has pledged to eliminate all plastic straws from its restaurants by the end of the year.
The company will switch to using biodegradable paper straws, which it says will keep 82 million plastic straws out of landfill every year.
The decision was applauded by Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, chair of the National Zero Waste Council, B.C. Liberal MLA Linda Reid and Ocean Wise president John Nightingale.
The company announced the news on World Oceans Day at the Vancouver Aquarium.
