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Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

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21–30 of 417 posts

Re: Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

#21

The Law of Unintended Consequences will: * Put companies out of business that produce or import said goods * Reducing availability and increasing cost of medical goods that use plastic because the aforementioned companies no longer exist or are importing products * Put pressure on manufactures to use alternate materials (bamboo and glass most likely) causing shortages and rising cost This in the long run is going to…

> Put companies out of business that produce or import said goods

You don't have much faith in free markets. They will adapt.

> Reducing availability and increasing cost of medical goods that use plastic because the aforementioned companies no longer exist or are importing products

What detailed knowledge do you have of medical devices supply chains that makes you so sure?

Re: Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

#24
post #6

I recently bought a set of reusable stainless steel straws. They were expensive, but have a timeless "design" and have a build quality that gives the impression they will last a lifetime. When dirty I throw them in the dishwasher with the other cutleries. They don't take any space in the washer so cleaning them is essentially "free". (Making abstraction of the ecological cost of a dishwasher.)

I've read that a dishwasher is less wasteful than hand-washing of dishes (perhaps this isn't true for people who are very, very scrupulous about their use of water while washing dishes, but that's not most of us).

Re: Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

#26

The UK dropped to 500 million bags annually used from 7 billion after introduction of a 5 pence per bag charge. That's just one country albeit one of the world's largest. Still I think we're over due for much more agressive action. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/30/england-...

I have about 20 pound worth of bags in the cupboard gathering dust, 5p doesn't make a difference. They should make it £1 in the UK from now and £5 from 2020. That will make a dent.

2030 is the same as saying "Lets kick the can down the road".

Re: Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

#27
post #6

I recently bought a set of reusable stainless steel straws. They were expensive, but have a timeless "design" and have a build quality that gives the impression they will last a lifetime. When dirty I throw them in the dishwasher with the other cutleries. They don't take any space in the washer so cleaning them is essentially "free". (Making abstraction of the ecological cost of a dishwasher.)

[deleted]

Re: Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

#28

The UK dropped to 500 million bags annually used from 7 billion after introduction of a 5 pence per bag charge. That's just one country albeit one of the world's largest. Still I think we're over due for much more agressive action. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jul/30/england-...

Chicago started charging 7 cent a bag and that certainly made me think twice about my bag use.

Re: Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

#29
post #12
post #4

12 years? 12 months seems plenty. It's not like they need decades of research to reintroduce paper straws, paper bags and reusable bags. Edit: I'm confused now. "As of next year, food and beverage stores such as fast food chains must stop providing plastic straws for in-store use. From 2020, free plastic straws will be banned from all food and beverage outlets. From 2025, the public will have to pay for takeaway plas…

The way I read it is that they’ll first ban plastic straws at sit down places, then charge extra for plastic straws for takeout, then ban plastic straws for takeout as well as sit down dining.

You're right, I conflated too far.

Re: Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

#30
post #6

I recently bought a set of reusable stainless steel straws. They were expensive, but have a timeless "design" and have a build quality that gives the impression they will last a lifetime. When dirty I throw them in the dishwasher with the other cutleries. They don't take any space in the washer so cleaning them is essentially "free". (Making abstraction of the ecological cost of a dishwasher.)

I've read that a dishwasher is less wasteful than hand-washing of dishes (perhaps this isn't true for people who are very, very scrupulous about their use of water while washing dishes, but that's not most of us).

Yeah, modern dishwashers use less water per washing cycle than it takes to fill the kitchen basin for handwashing.
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