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

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

#31

Post by mbid »

rubenbe wrote: 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.)

Honest question: How many plastic straws do you have to save to offset the CO2 cost of building a steel straw? Also, are paper straws really better, CO2-wise?

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

#32

Post by tachyoff »

randomerr wrote: post #8

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…

I just want to address this:

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

Good! Good. If you are actively contributing to polluting the earth and making it uninhabitable for future generations, then losing your business is probably the least horrible thing that can happen to you.

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

#33

Post by toomanybeersies »

Fifer82 wrote: post #26
technofiend wrote: post #10

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".

Well apparently a 5p charge resulted in a 14x decrease in usage of plastic bags, so despite your anecdote, it does make a difference.

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

#34

Post by maxxxxx »

randomerr wrote: post #8

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…

You should get into lobbying for the plastic industry. They need people like you.

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

#37

Post by oldcynic »

Fifer82 wrote: post #26
technofiend wrote: post #10

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".

That's broadly where I'd go with plastic bottles - £1 deposit, rising to £5 and compel supermarkets and manufacturers to take the returns. I'm old enough to remember the 20p(?) deposit on glass bottles of fizzy pop. Also when supermarkets were selling milk in glass bottles - and provided crates in the same section for customers to return the empties.

This used to be a solved problem.

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

#38

Post by jlebrech »

jlebrech wrote: post #36

Looks like people will be carrying little handbags around (to hold cutlery) or renting a straw from a vending machine you can return the item to. or even biodegradable bamboo straws.

or what about using pottery and throwing them into a special bin and getting a satisfying crash.

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

#39

Post by toomanybeersies »

Maybe it's an anecdote, but I've noticed that over the past year or two, most bars and clubs have stopped giving me a straw by default and instead I'd either had to grab one from the jar or ask for one.

This is good, I don't need or want a straw in my drink. Even with the introduction of bamboo straws they should keep this policy. Obviously there are reasons to want a straw, such as wearing lipstick or having sensitive teeth, but for lots of us it's unnecessary.

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

#40

Post by jimmaswell »

Sharlin wrote: post #30
emodendroket wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

Fill the basin? You don't just scrub each dish with a damp sponge spotted with dish soap then rinse it?
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