4 ms·

This article is rather cranky and make two assumptions: 1) that plastic is often trashed, not recycled, and it assumes that we will never fix that. 2) exemption

• ravenstine 8y ago
  Even if they are trashed, does it even matter unless they make it into the ocean? It's not like any continent has a shortage on wasteland to build more landfills in.
  • Shivetya 8y ago
    to be honest, I would prefer we find more ways to reduce what is going to the land fill. I have to make a trip with my father soon and it is amazing what we have no alternative other than just dumping it all. the chemical cocktail we are burying as a world is just amazing, all those cleaning chemicals, used oils, paints, and more. I know some regions tried incineration and I would like to think it is more environmentally friendly than simply burying it.
    • justinator 8y ago
      I mean, burning something can remove the problem locally, but then anyone that relies on air to breathe has to deal with whatever chemicals have been released. I'm not trying to side on, "let's just bury everything", but as a thought experiment: Would you rather be in a room where there's a plastic line trash can filled with a variety of trash, or in that same room, where that trash is currently on fire? Think about it this way: If CO2 had a color and producing it by driving a car would lead to purple billowing smoke, cars wouldn't exist, I don't believe. But because it's invisible, we also think the problem is invisible. Sort of like burning trash. At least with a landfill, we see, "Guh, that's just a big pile of trash! That's gross!"
    • shawnz 8y ago
      Incineration releases all those chemicals into the environment immediately. Whereas in a landfill, decomposition can be minimised (for example by sealing all the waste in an oxygen free atmosphere)
      • j16sdiz 8y ago
        Modern incinerators are in much higher temperture. When well managed -- by keeping the temperature right-- most of chemicals are broken down before emittion. Landfill contaminate ground water. There are no good way to fix. Water-proof layers have problem with rain. Building a sewage system open another can of worms. Sealing... I have no idea how can you seal this amount of land.
• tedunangst 8y ago
  The article also mentions compostable straws.
• amyjess 8y ago
  > Also, would compostable straws be an option? (assuming they do not end up in the landfill, and only distributed on demand to reduce waste). There are no options that are suitable for disabled people. I'd recommend following Lawrence Carter-Long (he manages the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund) on Facebook; he's made a number of public posts about it lately, and the comments on his posts tend to be very good. Here's the text of one of his posts: > FACT: A soggy paper straw increases the risk of choking. Most paper and silicone alternatives are not flexible, eliminating arguably the most important feature used by people with mobility disabilities. Metal, glass and bamboo straws present obvious dangers for people who have difficulty controlling their bite, as well as those with neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s. Some disabled folks use straws when drinking coffee or eating soup, yet most of the alternatives--including the leading biodegradable straw--are not suitable for drinks over 40°C/104°C. Furthermore, re-useable straws are not always hygienic or easy to clean in public places. And here's a comment he made on another of his posts: > 1. Glass straws can break. That's dangerous. For everyone. > 2. Metal straws don't always adapt to temperature changes well. And can burn people. > 3. At present, paper and biodegradable straws often break down faster than a lot of disabled folks can use 'em. A straw isn't much use when it is falling apart. > 4. Reuseable straws are useful only if and when you can wash them right after using and if you have a way to store them. They also have to be easy for folks to carry with them every time they leave the house. Not possible for everyone. > 5. What if you decide on the spur of the moment to go have a drink with friends after work but forgot your reusable straw that day? Doesn't leave a lot of room for spontaneity -- something non-disabled folks get to largely take for granted.
  • xyzzyz 8y ago
    What does he say about biodegradable plastic straws? The company I work for enjoys signalling its ecological awareness, and so they offer disposable compostable plastic cups. They work for hot coffee just fine, so the material should be as good for straws.
  • atomical 8y ago
    I saw an ad for a reusable straw that folded up and attached to your keychain on instagram. It was still too large for a keychain in my opinion though.
• justinator 8y ago
  > 1) that plastic is often trashed, not recycled, and it assumes that we will never fix that. I'm sorry to say, but recycling plastic doesn't work all that well. I believe one problem is that straws couldn't be recycled (and I think these lids can?), but then the next problem is, who is going to recycle all this plastic [0] and what is the recycled product going to be? You can't make a new lid out of an old on, unfortunately. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17368168 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17368168
  • mgbmtl 8y ago
    It doesn't make much sense from a purely scientific point of view, however, banning straws, much like banning plastic bags, is an efficient way to raise awareness and minimize inconvenience, to encourage people to re-examine their habits. (and I say "ban", but where I'm from, we can still get one for 10 or 20 cents, depending on the type of bag, and there are many exemptions, such as for meat) If we argue in favour of the status quo, which we know is broken too, waiting for a perfect solution, then absolutely nothing will change. There are easy ways to fix the recycling crisis, but it also means changing some habits.
• jessaustin 8y ago
  ...or we will end up demonizing the entire industry... Probably the best thing that could happen for our health?