5 ms·

Littering/dumping is a much different issue than disposing of your waste through the wrong channel. The problem you are describing isn't because people use the

by shawnz 6y ago

Littering/dumping is a much different issue than disposing of your waste through the wrong channel. The problem you are describing isn't because people use the garbage instead of the recycling.

oblio 6y ago
If we only had paper bags and such, littering wouldn't be a problem. Single use plastics of any kind need to be banned universally. Pseudo multiple use plastic such as bags needs to be taxed like alcohol and tobacco, through the roof, until alternatives become economically viable.
- tuwtuwtuwtuw 6y ago
  How much does a plastic bag cost where you are? Here in Sweden there's a tax on it and a single bag can cost 7 SEK (USD 0.85).
  - oblio 6y ago
    It's still too low. A plastic bag can be quite sturdy, it can be transparent so you can easily see what's inside, it's light, it folds well, is resistant to humidity, etc. If you'd give a plastic bag to someone from the 18th century they'd cherish it. We need to make it so the average person actually cares about buying a bag. Something like €2 with a return value of €1. Or anything that makes you treat it like you'd treat, say, a good tennis ball. You wouldn't just throw those away willy-nilly. And we need to ban the low grade ones completely.
    - ricardobayes 6y ago
      Yes well here in Spain bags are almost automatically handed out. And the cashier is personally offended if you say you don't need the bag.
    - imtringued 6y ago
      >If you'd give a plastic bag to someone from the 18th century they'd cherish it. Something very similar is happening in north korea. http://koreabizwire.com/bottled-water-a-symbol-of-wealth-in-north-korea/121101 http://koreabizwire.com/bottled-water-a-symbol-of-wealth-in-...
- DenisM 6y ago
  We would also have torn handles, pants-staining leaks, groceries spilled across the parking lot, double and triple bagging, and so on. In fact we already have all of these problems thanks to the ham-fisted paper bag laws. I would be more amenable to the idea if they made a bag that does not get torn (e.g. armor the paper with cotton or bamboo thread), and is leak-resistant (e.g. waxed), but that somehow takes the back seat.
  - oblio 6y ago
    Well, to your paragraph: oh, the humanity! Will someone think of petty conveniences?!? You do know that we're creating country sized plastic patches in the middle of the Pacific, microplastics are everywhere and we're eating them, they're slowly changing us in ways we don't even understand, etc, etc?

by shawnz 6y ago

Littering/dumping is a much different issue than disposing of your waste through the wrong channel. The problem you are describing isn't because people use the garbage instead of the recycling.

oblio 6y ago

If we only had paper bags and such, littering wouldn't be a problem. Single use plastics of any kind need to be banned universally. Pseudo multiple use plastic such as bags needs to be taxed like alcohol and tobacco, through the roof, until alternatives become economically viable.

tuwtuwtuwtuw 6y ago
How much does a plastic bag cost where you are? Here in Sweden there's a tax on it and a single bag can cost 7 SEK (USD 0.85).
- oblio 6y ago
  It's still too low. A plastic bag can be quite sturdy, it can be transparent so you can easily see what's inside, it's light, it folds well, is resistant to humidity, etc. If you'd give a plastic bag to someone from the 18th century they'd cherish it. We need to make it so the average person actually cares about buying a bag. Something like €2 with a return value of €1. Or anything that makes you treat it like you'd treat, say, a good tennis ball. You wouldn't just throw those away willy-nilly. And we need to ban the low grade ones completely.
  - ricardobayes 6y ago
    Yes well here in Spain bags are almost automatically handed out. And the cashier is personally offended if you say you don't need the bag.
  - imtringued 6y ago
    >If you'd give a plastic bag to someone from the 18th century they'd cherish it. Something very similar is happening in north korea. http://koreabizwire.com/bottled-water-a-symbol-of-wealth-in-north-korea/121101 http://koreabizwire.com/bottled-water-a-symbol-of-wealth-in-...
DenisM 6y ago
We would also have torn handles, pants-staining leaks, groceries spilled across the parking lot, double and triple bagging, and so on. In fact we already have all of these problems thanks to the ham-fisted paper bag laws. I would be more amenable to the idea if they made a bag that does not get torn (e.g. armor the paper with cotton or bamboo thread), and is leak-resistant (e.g. waxed), but that somehow takes the back seat.
- oblio 6y ago
  Well, to your paragraph: oh, the humanity! Will someone think of petty conveniences?!? You do know that we're creating country sized plastic patches in the middle of the Pacific, microplastics are everywhere and we're eating them, they're slowly changing us in ways we don't even understand, etc, etc?