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i’m no export so there will be no citations. i was just thinking, the current state of plastics is they pollute oceans and jeopardize entire ecosystems. and the

by apsurd 6y ago

i’m no export so there will be no citations. i was just thinking, the current state of plastics is they pollute oceans and jeopardize entire ecosystems. and they’re made from oil. an idealized argument for how, strictly speaking, this outcome doesn’t have to be the case, is not really that useful? we don’t really recycle plastics because it’s cheaper to just make new plastics. saying all we have to do is recycle plastics is not an actual economic solution? i never comment anymore. thought i’d give it a shot heh

jamesrcole 6y ago
Thank you for the response. What I’ve heard is that plastics don’t pollute, per se, its poor waste management practices. When those practices are sufficient the plastic isn’t an issue (or is much less of an issue). https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution#where-does-our-plastic-accumulate-in-the-ocean-and-what-does-that-mean-for-the-futures https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution#where-does-our-... The summary of those details from that document: “However, it is the management of plastic waste that determines the risk of plastic entering the ocean. High-income countries have very effect waste management systems; mismanaged waste – and plastic that ends up in the oceans – is therefore very rare. Poor waste management across many middle- and low-income countries means that these are the main sources of global ocean plastic pollution This makes the improvement of waste management systems across the world critical to reducing plastic pollution. An estimated 20 percent of all plastic waste in the oceans comes from marine sources. In some regions, marine sources dominate: More than half of plastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) come from fishing nets, ropes and lines”. If this is true, then the best way to address the pollution would be to address those poor practices.
- apsurd 6y ago
  that’s helpful information to think about! thanks. in other words, there are things we can do to manage the situation we’re in. i kind of assume you’re familiar with https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24714880 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24714880 so that’s why i suppose i’m necessarily oriented more toward an economic-based view/incentive solution. because this plastic problem is economic capitalistic abuse/exploitation. i didn’t downvote you btw but i think your initial comment is triggering because like... nobody needs the absurds amount of shitty disposable plastic crap being created. it’s cheap and people can make a buck and it’s simple as that. anyway, thanks for the link!

by apsurd 6y ago

jamesrcole 6y ago

Thank you for the response. What I’ve heard is that plastics don’t pollute, per se, its poor waste management practices. When those practices are sufficient the plastic isn’t an issue (or is much less of an issue). https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution#where-does-our-plastic-accumulate-in-the-ocean-and-what-does-that-mean-for-the-futures https://ourworldindata.org/plastic-pollution#where-does-our-... The summary of those details from that document: “However, it is the management of plastic waste that determines the risk of plastic entering the ocean. High-income countries have very effect waste management systems; mismanaged waste – and plastic that ends up in the oceans – is therefore very rare. Poor waste management across many middle- and low-income countries means that these are the main sources of global ocean plastic pollution This makes the improvement of waste management systems across the world critical to reducing plastic pollution. An estimated 20 percent of all plastic waste in the oceans comes from marine sources. In some regions, marine sources dominate: More than half of plastics in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch (GPGP) come from fishing nets, ropes and lines”. If this is true, then the best way to address the pollution would be to address those poor practices.

apsurd 6y ago
that’s helpful information to think about! thanks. in other words, there are things we can do to manage the situation we’re in. i kind of assume you’re familiar with https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24714880 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=24714880 so that’s why i suppose i’m necessarily oriented more toward an economic-based view/incentive solution. because this plastic problem is economic capitalistic abuse/exploitation. i didn’t downvote you btw but i think your initial comment is triggering because like... nobody needs the absurds amount of shitty disposable plastic crap being created. it’s cheap and people can make a buck and it’s simple as that. anyway, thanks for the link!