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The war on plastic bags (in the USA) was dumb. They are a tiny tiny percentage of plastic pollution and paper bags actually take up more space at the landfill a
by EasyMark 3y ago
The war on plastic bags (in the USA) was dumb. They are a tiny tiny percentage of plastic pollution and paper bags actually take up more space at the landfill and a LOT more energy to manufacture to the same strength and usability. The truth is even more so for canvas bags. I live where the war never happened and I just stuff them under the cabinet until it gets full and then I take them to the grocery store where they are properly recycled, and the store reports how that happens.
- phatfish 3y agoSure, if you recycle them then that makes it much better for the environment. The problem is most people don't recycle them. Not so sure on the energy usage, if feels like the manufacturing and recycling chain would be more energy intensive than creating something that can be reused for years.
- scoofy 3y ago>paper bags actually take up more space at the landfill and are biodegradable >a LOT more energy to manufacture which could be done with renewables But again, the point of all this is to get people to reuse bags in the long run. If you just assume that people will mindlessly always need bags at every store they visit, you're missing the point. It's a simple cultural change, and it has to start somewhere, and it will always be imperfect, and older generations will always be uncomfortable with it.