3 ms·

The kids weren't scavengers. There are so many things we could have if we actually could somehow have faith that the required (for safety, pollution mitigation

The kids weren't scavengers. There are so many things we could have if we actually could somehow have faith that the required (for safety, pollution mitigation, etc.) full lifecycle was actually honored. Instead, everything is dominated by lazy jerks. The other day, I noticed my neighbor's house painter digging a hole. I said hello and asked what was up, and he said "Yes, I need to dispose of the water and paint from my sprayer, so I dig holes and pour it in. Don't worry, I will fill the hole back in when I'm done." This was in the bay area. People just will not do the right thing by default if it is even remotely more work and for most people, thought is the hardest work there is.

ethbr0 4y ago
What's the recommended method of disposing of paint waste water in the Bay Area? I'd assume soil sequestration (we're not talking lead paint here, presumably) is preferable to storm drain dilution?
- mh- 4y ago
  https://sfenvironment.org/article/household-hazardous-waste-collection-programs-in-the-bay-area https://sfenvironment.org/article/household-hazardous-waste-... Paint is explicitly mentioned. SF even has free home pickup for it via Recology. https://sfenvironment.org/safe-disposal https://sfenvironment.org/safe-disposal
  - ethbr0 4y ago
    Is that for all paint? It looks like they only offer pickup for oil-based paints, and latex/acrylic-based should drop off: https://sfrecycles.org/items?words=paint&address=all https://sfrecycles.org/items?words=paint&address=all I was curious, because I know SF has a high enough population:water ratio that stricter treatment is required, but on the other hand modern non-oil paints are relatively chemically safe (at worst, probably the off-gasing parts).
    - mh- 4y ago
      Not sure. I don't live in the city anymore but your comment made me realize I didn't know either.
triceratops 4y ago
Should've reported him.
hutzlibu 4y ago
"People just will not do the right thing by default if it is even remotely more work and for most people, thought is the hardest work there is. " My theory is simply low education. Since aeons we burried our garbage and it was never a problem. It only started quite recently, that our technology is so advanced, that it simply will not decompose. But rather contaminate. But only a very low percentage of people actualy understands this. So sure, that painter surely was "educated" at some point, that doing this is bad. But they simply do not believe it. "Not a big deal, you know". Same with plastic bags, same with climate change. Maybe we should start proper science education a lot earlier?

ethbr0 4y ago

What's the recommended method of disposing of paint waste water in the Bay Area? I'd assume soil sequestration (we're not talking lead paint here, presumably) is preferable to storm drain dilution?

mh- 4y ago
https://sfenvironment.org/article/household-hazardous-waste-collection-programs-in-the-bay-area https://sfenvironment.org/article/household-hazardous-waste-... Paint is explicitly mentioned. SF even has free home pickup for it via Recology. https://sfenvironment.org/safe-disposal https://sfenvironment.org/safe-disposal
- ethbr0 4y ago
  Is that for all paint? It looks like they only offer pickup for oil-based paints, and latex/acrylic-based should drop off: https://sfrecycles.org/items?words=paint&address=all https://sfrecycles.org/items?words=paint&address=all I was curious, because I know SF has a high enough population:water ratio that stricter treatment is required, but on the other hand modern non-oil paints are relatively chemically safe (at worst, probably the off-gasing parts).
  - mh- 4y ago
    Not sure. I don't live in the city anymore but your comment made me realize I didn't know either.

triceratops 4y ago

Should've reported him.

hutzlibu 4y ago

"People just will not do the right thing by default if it is even remotely more work and for most people, thought is the hardest work there is. " My theory is simply low education. Since aeons we burried our garbage and it was never a problem. It only started quite recently, that our technology is so advanced, that it simply will not decompose. But rather contaminate. But only a very low percentage of people actualy understands this. So sure, that painter surely was "educated" at some point, that doing this is bad. But they simply do not believe it. "Not a big deal, you know". Same with plastic bags, same with climate change. Maybe we should start proper science education a lot earlier?