4 ms·

Maine becomes first state to shift costs of recycling to companies

33 points by yboris 5y ago

hoppyhoppy2 5y ago
https://archive.is/YvWju https://archive.is/YvWju
nataz 5y ago
Partially related question. I live in the DC metro area and work for the federal government. As such, I read the Washington post online on a pretty much daily basis. It's the best local news source in the region. Is it just me, or do they have a lot of coverage about news from Maine? I keep seeing articles related to Maine topics on what feels like a weekly basis. I can't figure out if it's my own bias (I have a lot of connections to the State of Maine) where stories from Maine are more likely to stand out, or if there really is an editor or contributor who pulls from Maine news topics on a regular basis. Another option could be I see different stories based on ad tracking preference... There are multiple versions of the wapo online, depending on where/how you access the website. Anyone have any insight into this?
- atatatat 5y ago
  Maine does a lot more state and local govt work than most states.
- Scoundreller 5y ago
  Try browsing over Tor and see what you get displayed? Probabilistically you’ll get the int’l version, but that might be fine for your needs (ie: still lots of US coverage but less non-DC coverage).
thrower123 5y ago
Everyone is irate that they have to pay a nickel a paper bag now that they've banned plastic. The paper bags used to be free if you wanted them instead of plastic.
- atatatat 5y ago
  Because nobody chose them.
- mrguyorama 5y ago
  Are people really that irate about having to buy $5 worth of reusable bags? I had already transitioned to reusable bags because managing tens of plastic bags a week without just throwing them away was annoying and surprisingly difficult in a 750 sq ft apartment. I only need so many tiny trash bags. Now the straw ban, that's pretty stupid, and definitely isn't helpful anyway.
  - Scoundreller 5y ago
    While I don’t mind reusable bags (I can spend more time filling my big bag rather than fiddling with bags), I now end up buying plastic bags. Before, it would always work out. In a building with a garbage chute so it’s not like I can buy big disposable bags anyway and fit them in the chute.
Proven 5y ago
Of course, the cost is passed on to customers - it's not paid by manufacturers. Which is how it works and it's fine, as long as recycling isn't micromanaged by State. If you think about it, this "who pays" confusion is often seen here among economically clueless HN readers who want to make you believe it doesn't cost anything when manufacturers are pushed to honor warranty for products screwed up by techno-socialists trying to repair them on their own. Buyer always pays, whether the cost is higher due to recycling or your fake Right to Repair.

33 points by yboris 5y ago

https://archive.is/YvWju https://archive.is/YvWju

Partially related question. I live in the DC metro area and work for the federal government. As such, I read the Washington post online on a pretty much daily basis. It's the best local news source in the region. Is it just me, or do they have a lot of coverage about news from Maine? I keep seeing articles related to Maine topics on what feels like a weekly basis. I can't figure out if it's my own bias (I have a lot of connections to the State of Maine) where stories from Maine are more likely to stand out, or if there really is an editor or contributor who pulls from Maine news topics on a regular basis. Another option could be I see different stories based on ad tracking preference... There are multiple versions of the wapo online, depending on where/how you access the website. Anyone have any insight into this?

atatatat 5y ago
Maine does a lot more state and local govt work than most states.
Scoundreller 5y ago
Try browsing over Tor and see what you get displayed? Probabilistically you’ll get the int’l version, but that might be fine for your needs (ie: still lots of US coverage but less non-DC coverage).

thrower123 5y ago

Everyone is irate that they have to pay a nickel a paper bag now that they've banned plastic. The paper bags used to be free if you wanted them instead of plastic.

atatatat 5y ago
Because nobody chose them.
mrguyorama 5y ago
Are people really that irate about having to buy $5 worth of reusable bags? I had already transitioned to reusable bags because managing tens of plastic bags a week without just throwing them away was annoying and surprisingly difficult in a 750 sq ft apartment. I only need so many tiny trash bags. Now the straw ban, that's pretty stupid, and definitely isn't helpful anyway.
- Scoundreller 5y ago
  While I don’t mind reusable bags (I can spend more time filling my big bag rather than fiddling with bags), I now end up buying plastic bags. Before, it would always work out. In a building with a garbage chute so it’s not like I can buy big disposable bags anyway and fit them in the chute.

Proven 5y ago

Of course, the cost is passed on to customers - it's not paid by manufacturers. Which is how it works and it's fine, as long as recycling isn't micromanaged by State. If you think about it, this "who pays" confusion is often seen here among economically clueless HN readers who want to make you believe it doesn't cost anything when manufacturers are pushed to honor warranty for products screwed up by techno-socialists trying to repair them on their own. Buyer always pays, whether the cost is higher due to recycling or your fake Right to Repair.