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It's not sexy, but the number one way to reduce plastic pollution is to build landfills and proper waste management systems in developing countries. Plastic ban

by Aunche 2y ago

It's not sexy, but the number one way to reduce plastic pollution is to build landfills and proper waste management systems in developing countries. Plastic bans are largely performative and often counterproductive. Instead of bringing their own bags, a lot of shoppers just treat the "reuseable" bags the they buy a the supermarket as disposable. https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickgleason/2024/01/22/new-jersey-bag-ban-followed-by-increased-use-of-plastic/?sh=44a368b66a85 https://www.forbes.com/sites/patrickgleason/2024/01/22/new-j... https://www.latimes.com/environment/plastic-bag-ban-waste-404-123#:~:text=In%202014%2C%20when%20the%20ban,per%20pound%20has%20gone%20up https://www.latimes.com/environment/plastic-bag-ban-waste-40....

MattGaiser 2y ago
I’m curious what bags would need to cost to change that behaviour, as for all the complaining about inflation, many clearly don’t miss 3-4% a shop buying cloth bags here.
- londons_explore 2y ago
  I think bags would have to cost $10-$20 before the most people started remembering to bring one to the shop. People simply don't think far enough ahead to plan to take a bag to the shop, and prefer to 'pay for convenience'. Plenty of people pay $30 to avoid having to turn their oven on to cook something.
- graeme 2y ago
  I bring a bookbag to stores, but if I forget one I buy a "reuseable" bag and then get rid of it. If you need a bag you need a bag. Before plastic, stores had paper bags. Some stores offer these now but many don't. I find it surprising. They're certainly less useful than plastic bags but they're plenty useful. you can walk with 2-3 in your arms, they hold a good amount of things, and they're recyclable. And then if you need one with handles you can get one of the paid bags stores have.
quinncom 2y ago
Mexico City implemented a ban on single-use plastics on January 1, 2021, which has been almost completely ignored except outside of corporate chains such as Walmart, where indeed many people just buy the recyclable bags.

by Aunche 2y ago

MattGaiser 2y ago

I’m curious what bags would need to cost to change that behaviour, as for all the complaining about inflation, many clearly don’t miss 3-4% a shop buying cloth bags here.

londons_explore 2y ago
I think bags would have to cost $10-$20 before the most people started remembering to bring one to the shop. People simply don't think far enough ahead to plan to take a bag to the shop, and prefer to 'pay for convenience'. Plenty of people pay $30 to avoid having to turn their oven on to cook something.
graeme 2y ago
I bring a bookbag to stores, but if I forget one I buy a "reuseable" bag and then get rid of it. If you need a bag you need a bag. Before plastic, stores had paper bags. Some stores offer these now but many don't. I find it surprising. They're certainly less useful than plastic bags but they're plenty useful. you can walk with 2-3 in your arms, they hold a good amount of things, and they're recyclable. And then if you need one with handles you can get one of the paid bags stores have.

quinncom 2y ago

Mexico City implemented a ban on single-use plastics on January 1, 2021, which has been almost completely ignored except outside of corporate chains such as Walmart, where indeed many people just buy the recyclable bags.