3 ms·

"Obviously" goes way too far here, even if you are including greenhouse gasses in the tally, which aren't pollution by traditional standards. My apartment's ele

"Obviously" goes way too far here, even if you are including greenhouse gasses in the tally, which aren't pollution by traditional standards. My apartment's electricity and the public transportation I use to get around are powered by renewable energy sources that don't create pollution. In the average week (or month) 95% of the plastic waste I create is from inefficiently packaged foods, which definitely counts as "kitchen" plastic waste. Probably 99% of the plastic I've purchased in the last 2 years is for kitchen items. I don't think my situation is particularly unusual.

hedora 4y ago
What about clothes, bedding, consumables, etc? Don't forget the stuff thrown away while producing that stuff. Also, you should figure in depreciation on things like the apartment itself, vehicles, and transportation of the stuff you buy. 100% renewable energy is great, if true where you are. Most places still use natural gas peaker plants, at least. Consuming electricity during the day is cleaner than at peak, but even if you're producing your own energy (or your utility is 100% greenhouse free, regionally), the electricity you use could have displaced dirty production elsewhere on the grid. (Also, even solar and wind produce pollution -- they have embodied carbon and finite lifespans). I'm not arguing against reducing household plastic waste, but the idea that you see most of the pollution that's created by stuff you consume is optimistic. Anyway, according to the EPA, US municipal solid waste is 12.2% plastic (excluding construction waste, sewage sludge, etc). The US is likely higher than most places: https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-...

3 ms·

"Obviously" goes way too far here, even if you are including greenhouse gasses in the tally, which aren't pollution by traditional standards. My apartment's ele

by bscphil 4y ago

hedora 4y ago
What about clothes, bedding, consumables, etc? Don't forget the stuff thrown away while producing that stuff. Also, you should figure in depreciation on things like the apartment itself, vehicles, and transportation of the stuff you buy. 100% renewable energy is great, if true where you are. Most places still use natural gas peaker plants, at least. Consuming electricity during the day is cleaner than at peak, but even if you're producing your own energy (or your utility is 100% greenhouse free, regionally), the electricity you use could have displaced dirty production elsewhere on the grid. (Also, even solar and wind produce pollution -- they have embodied carbon and finite lifespans). I'm not arguing against reducing household plastic waste, but the idea that you see most of the pollution that's created by stuff you consume is optimistic. Anyway, according to the EPA, US municipal solid waste is 12.2% plastic (excluding construction waste, sewage sludge, etc). The US is likely higher than most places: https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-...