One of the main arguments for the environmental-friendliness of paper over plastic straws is that paper is biodegradable.

The problem?
Just because regular paper is biodegradable, doesn’t mean that paper straws are biodegradable. What’s more, the term biodegradable can have different definitions, and can sometimes be misleading.
To be considered “biodegradable,” the carbon material of a product has to break down by only 60% after 180 days. In real world situations, the paper could last a lot longer than 180 days (but will still disappear faster than plastic, of course).
To make matters worse, in cities where most of us live, we generally do not compost our waste products or leave them in nature to biodegrade. Think about it: If you go to a fast food restaurant, there is rarely ever a compost bin. Instead, your paper straws will most likely go into the normal trash and end up in a landfill.
Landfills are specifically designed to prevent decomposing, which means that if you throw your paper straw out into the trash, it will probably never biodegrade. This means that your paper straw would just be adding to the piles of garbage on Earth.

But, Aren’t Paper Straws Recyclable?
Paper products in general are usually recyclable, and this means that in general, paper straws are recyclable.
However, most recycling facilities will not accept food-contaminated paper products. Since paper absorbs liquids, it may be the case that your paper straws will not be recycled.
Does this mean that paper straws are completely non-recyclable? Not exactly, but if your paper straw has food residue on it (for example, from drinking smoothies), then it may not be recycled.

Conclusion: What Should I Do About Paper Straws?
In conclusion, just because some restaurants have switched over to paper straws, doesn’t mean that you should use them. It’s clear that paper straws are still harmful to the environment, even if plastic straws are more harmful.
In the end, paper straws still have large environmental consequences, and are definitely not eco-friendly. For the most part, they are still a single-use waste item.

So, what can you do to mitigate your environmental footprint?
The easiest way to reduce your environmental impact (in regards to straws) is to refuse all straws altogether.
Make sure that whenever you go to restaurants, you request a drink without the straw. Restaurants usually give out straws automatically with your drink, so it’s important that you ask before you order.
Substituting our use of plastic straws with paper alternatives is like replacing a McDonald’s diet with a KFC diet—both are unhealthy for your health, just as both plastic and paper straws are unhealthy for our environment.