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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

#351

Post by prawn »

cimmanom wrote: post #190
kentosi wrote: post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Meanwhile when I moved here in New York I was shocked at the common practice of "double bagging" where they literally put a plastic bag into another plastic bag. The argument being that 1 bag isn't strong enough.

It's dumb for light items, absolutely. But New Yorkers tend to carry their groceries home in their hands for as far as a mile, instead of wheeling them out in carts to a car trunk and then carrying them 20 feet to the door of the house. Heavy items (liquids and canned goods and stuff like potatoes) WILL tear through plastic bags if not double bagged. The worst offenders are half gallons of milk/juice, which have shar…

Almost everyone in South Australia uses reusable grocery bags, like this: https://www.google.com.au/search?q=reusable+bag&tbm=isch&sou...

We keep them in the car or carry a collapsible one in a backpack, handbag, laptop bag, etc.

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

#352

Post by maym86 »

maym86 wrote: post #293
kodablah wrote: post #264

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Seems obvious that the solution is more public restrooms While I agree, it's like saying wrt plastic bags in the ocean, "Seems obvious that the solution is less littering" or "Seems obvious the solution is biodegradable bags" etc, etc. It is just so much easier for people to change laws and affect everyone than target the specific problem.

In agree. Enact a laws to provide sufficient puplic restrooms and support for homeless people while also enacting changes to reduce plastic bag usage. My issue is with the implication that reducing plastic bags caused this. Not helping venerable people caused this, the need for plastic bags is a side effect.

Few typos due to using my phone: venerable should be vulnerable.

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

#353

Post by maym86 »

jpttsn wrote: post #282
grasshopperpurp wrote: post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fort Worth and Albuquerque give them jobs to clean up streets. In Fort Worth, they pay $10 per hour and provide housing. This would be similar - and a good idea, I think.

Would you personally pay this, or is it only a good idea if it’s someone else’s money?

I would happily contribute through taxes.

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

#354

Post by gurkendoktor »

HumanDrivenDev wrote: post #308
TazeTSchnitzel wrote: post #93

> uniform invoices – widely used in Taiwan I wondered what this meant, so I looked it up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Invoice_lottery To encourage businesses to report their earnings, Taiwan's tax authorities operate a receipt lottery. Genius.

It's pretty common to buy something then be asked to pay 5% more if you want a receipt - 5% being their sales tax.

I've experienced that kind of shenanigans in Vietnam, but never in Taiwan. What did you buy?

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

#355

Post by ePierre »

makecheck wrote: post #115

Drinks taste better without straws anyway, and you can be satisfied with a lot less by sipping directly. I was amazed how easily I could gulp down some 32 oz. drink with a straw but when opening the lid and sipping I could be perfectly happy with a tiny coffee-cup size.

Yeah but the problem is that in Taiwan, a very popular drink is 珍珠奶茶, bubble milk tea... And you cannot sip the bubbles without a straw!

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

#356

Post by alkonaut »

kentosi wrote: post #131
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-...

Meanwhile when I moved here in New York I was shocked at the common practice of "double bagging" where they literally put a plastic bag into another plastic bag. The argument being that 1 bag isn't strong enough.

Its because the bags are thin useless bags. I was also shocked to see in the UK, US and Australia those useless bags that you use ten (double bag to 20) of to carry a weeks groceries.

When you get proper bags that you pay for they are much better. 25lbs in one bag is no problem even with sharp corners on some items.

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

#357

Post by ePierre »

mulmen wrote: post #135
mc32 wrote: post #91

As good as this will be for the environment and aesthetics, just have to think the bubble tea vendors as well as regular green tea vendors who sell their drinks in sealed containers to be pierced by a sharp straw are not going to be fans of this ban.

Those bubble teas come in a plastic cup with a plastic lid and then they give you a plastic bag too! This will be a big change for a lot of vendors.

Well since January 1st, they cannot give you a plastic bag for free anymore. That's already a push in the good direction!

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

#358

Post by gurkendoktor »

lev99 wrote: post #173
antognini wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't like straws myself, but they are better for your teeth since most beverages are acidic and the straw allows the liquid to bypass your teeth.

I suspect we'll see the market for reusable straws increase in Taiwan.

I have no numbers but I suspect that's already happening. I saw several people carry these reusable cups for drinks around last year (it seemed almost like a fad, but I hope it lasts):

https://www.rakuten.com.tw/search/冰霸杯/

Buying a reusable straw seems like the obvious next step.

Many shops also give a 3% or so discount to people who bring their own cup.

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

#359

Post by emodendroket »

function_seven wrote: post #349
Sharlin wrote: post #318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

These sort of things, with a handle and nylon bristles: https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Dish-Brush/dp/B00004OC...

Oh, that's what I use (I'm in California). They're pretty common here as well. I don't understand people who use sponges. They're mold applicators as far as I'm concerned :)

I like to use a brush to get off all the gunk and then do detail work with a sponge.

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

#360

Post by emodendroket »

walshemj wrote: post #330
rsync wrote: post #291

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I am happy to report that you are completely wrong about this. The water usage is almost a 10x difference and the power usage of handwashing is 2/3 more: "A European study comparing hand washing to machine dish washing found that hand washers used as much as 27 gallons of water and 2.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy to wash 12 place settings, compared with the 4 gallons and 1.5 kWh used by a hyperefficient dishwasher…

27 gallons is over 120 L that's over a tenth of a ton of water I don't believe that figure

Plug the sink next time you're washing dishes.
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