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The argument of this article is basically "The problem with plastic waste in the ocean isn't as obvious in countries with lower population densities. Other coun
by fiblye 6y ago
The argument of this article is basically "The problem with plastic waste in the ocean isn't as obvious in countries with lower population densities. Other countries make more. That means plastic is fine and it's just a 1970s hippie campaign against it that ruined it." It's a bunch of cherry picked factoids, like recycling is often not properly done in most countries, used as a garnish on top of claims that plastic is actually amazing for the environment.
It also quotes the old study that people barely ever reuse their reusable bags, when I think more people are far more well-aware now and reuse the hell out of reusable bags. Mine have been used for 5 years now, several times a week.
It's a slop-filled hit piece that tries using "environmentalist" as a slur. It's not hard to walk outside and see plastic garbage laying around--increasing by the year--and knowing it'll be there well beyond my lifetime, and knowing some countries are several times worse. I've been to some of those countries and seen piles of plastic bags and wrappers lining streets. It's a problem that will only grow and have compounding damage.
- pfundstein 6y ago> It also quotes the old study that people barely ever reuse their reusable bags, when I think more people are far more well-aware now I agree, (anecdotally) every time I go to the supermarket I notice that the vast majority of people walking towards the supermarket are carrying reusable bags. This wasn't the case just a year ago when it'd be very rare to see even a single person bringing their own bags.
- WalterBright 6y agoI'd bring my paper bags back to the grocery store and fill them again, they'd usually last about 3 runs to the store before falling apart. Because of the pandemic now, though, the store doesn't want me to reuse the paper ones. But I'll resume once the pandemic is over.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- xondono 6y agoWhile I agree that is much more common and the numbers of the study have changed, I'd like to see the actual tally. Pretty much everyone I ask (including myself) has way too many bags. I've got a full drawer of reusable bags, and it keeps growing. While I'm totally onboard with tote bags, you can't always plan when you'll be buying, so I don't see the disposable bag (maybe not plastic though) as being something that can be eliminated.
- alquemist 6y agoWhile this article is off base, there is a distinct lack of leadership in demonstrating effective ways to solve the problem. There is way too much plastic used for disposable packaging, from foods to toiletries to the infamous heat sealed plastic clamshells. What does an ideal zero plastic life look like? Is it even possible to conduct such a life in the modern world? For example, yogurt. Ubiquitous. Comes in nice little plastic cups, which will, at best, end up in a landfill. Suppose there is a wide agreement in society to phase these plastic cups out: * Do we ban yogurt? * Do we use recyclable glass instead? * Do we use recyclable glass, and only dispense yogurt if you bring a recyclable container for an exchange? * Do we use recyclable glass, only dispense in exchange for a recyclable container, and standardize container shape such that the recycling actually recycles, as opposed to sending the "recycled" container to a landfill anyways? * Do we limit the amount of yogurt containers one can buy in a given timeframe? * Do we create a heavy tax on the container, say 10x the price of the content? Life is short and people may get overwhelmed by too many details. Problem which compounds if there is too much choice. Almost always better to have a standard recipe to follow, than having to figure out a recipe on a case by case basis.
- MandieD 6y agoGlass jars are a standard size and shape, and have a 15 cent deposit, redeemable at the collection machines in the front of the store that also handles other glass and single -use plastic drink bottles. That’s how it works in Germany, but there are plenty of yoghurts sold in non-deposit plastic, for which the seller has to pre-pay the disposal fees.
- soco 6y agoThe fees are one thing, but are those plastics actually disposed? At last burned?
- blackbrokkoli 6y agoIdeally, there is no plastics. It is glass (it gets washed and reused). The lid is ...a metal sheet or something? Also gets reused. That is the key idea, it is just a process towards that and in the meantime you got to reduce plastic usage somehow.
- jibal 6y agoCity Journal is a far far right wing propaganda outlet. I thought such political stuff was out of place here.