Costa, Wagamama and Pret a Manger have all announced they will stop offering plastic straws to customers, whilst Morrisons and Waitrose have said they will stop selling them.

It’s estimated that the UK uses 8.5 billion straws a year and MCS beach clean volunteers have been finding plastic straws on UK beaches in increasing numbers over the last 20 years.

Since a video appeared on YouTube of a sea turtle having a straw extracted from its nostril, the charity believes ordinary people think that the random handing out of this single-use plastic item must stop.

MCS is delighted to see that so many outlets are deciding to stop giving out or selling plastic straws when biodegradable and eco alternatives are readily available.

Costa has more than 2,200 branches in the UK and currently uses 19 million straws a year and 26 million stroons which are plastic straws with spoons on the end. They say both will be replaced with a non-plastic alternatives.

MCS says it will be keeping a close eye on outlets to ensure they are using truly biodegradable alternatives and not just replacing one type of polluting litter with another.

“Our message is if you’re a business – stop handing them out, unless it’s absolutely necessary and if you’re a consumer - just say no, because you really don’t need it and you’ll be doing the oceans a massive favour,” says Laura Parry from the MCS Clean Seas Team.

The charity is also asking big fast food chains to stop giving out millions of plastic cups, stirrers, straws and cutlery but replace them with reusable or fully compostable alternatives.