Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve • Hacker News Board

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#391

Post by arbitrary_name » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 5:43 AM UTC

dpkonofa wrote: post #361

insaneirish wrote: post #351

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is a solution here. Rant: the solution is to learn how to read a recipe and cook without a paint by numbers erector set that has an unreasonable packaging:food ratio. I’m fine with these services as a ‘gateway drug’ to independently cooking for yourself, but they’re insane as a long term thing. (Not to mention that I have no idea how they stay viable in the long term, given their customer acquisition costs. I…

That's nonsense. I have formal culinary training and Blue Apron was never about needing to learn how to read a recipe and cook with "a paint by numbers erector set". It was almost exclusively about the convenience and ease of recycling what was sent. You're projecting.

No,i agree with parent. What is so damn hard about picking a recipe and then ordering produce/goods from your local grocery accordingly? It seems wasteful to use a service like that purely for convenience.

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#392

Post by Moru » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 6:29 AM UTC

kalleboo wrote: post #320

60secz wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't be surprised to see local distribution through grocery stores (whole foods/ralphs) dominate the subscription meal space over the next few years due to better distribution margins and economies of scale.

This is how it works where I lived in Europe. All the big grocery store chains have their own food subscription boxes, and instead of having it delivered home you can also just pick it up at your local supermarket on you way home from work.

Yes, this is how we do it here in sweden, perfect way of getting rid of the food that is getting close to the best before date without lowering the price. Also easier to sell vegetables that don't look so good.

I stull preffer to select mu goods by myself, it's well spent time away from the keyboard stress and I get to decide how much waste I want to produce by using my 10 year old cotton bags and let the fruit and veggies use their own packaging, that is anyway best for freshness.

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#393

Post by waitButWhy » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 6:51 AM UTC

dougmwne wrote: post #65

This is a classic externality problem. We can berate consumers all day long to be more diligent in their recycling, but all that finger wagging is for show meant to distract from the real source of the garbage, the manufacturers. Just like the classic "blame the user" mentality, the users were given an impossibly complex system with barely any incentive to get it right. Nothing about the interface is intuitive or dis…

There is a way for consumers to solve the problem themselves, but boycott is a four letter word.

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#394

Post by pininja » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 7:03 AM UTC

WalterBright wrote: post #348

victorhooi wrote: post #345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're saying the CO2 risk is OK, because they have oxygen masks. That's like saying, increasing the risk of crashing a car is OK, because we'll have airbags. What I'm saying is (unless you're PETA), the welfare and safety of your fellow human beings will trump most other things.

There's a reason the crew already has oxygen masks.

The masks are there to survive sudden cabin decompression at high altitudes where the atmosphere is too thin to breath. There is only enough oxygen to last a few minutes.

Further reading: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/travel-truths/truth-about...

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#395

Post by nowarninglabel » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 7:05 AM UTC

I'm working with a plastic recycler in Kenya that may be solving issues in a novel way: https://make-it-initiative.org/africa/cpt_startup/gjenge-ent...

Contact me if you want an intro to them, they are seeking grant and equity funding to grow their ability to recycle plastic bottles into building blocks

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#396

Post by pininja » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 7:10 AM UTC

ars wrote: post #257

dreamcompiler wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Blue Apron's cold packs are ridiculous. The goop leaks onto the food, they're a nightmare to dispose of, and they're heavy; probably 75% of the weight of a BA box is the cold packs. If they used dry ice, the boxes would be much lighter weight -- saving on shipping costs -- and they would simply evaporate rather than needing to be trashed.

The CO2 would enter the food, and make it taste like a weird kind of seltzer. Is all the food air sealed?

I’ve experienced this issue just a tiny bit with my delivery of dip’n’dots with dry ice, but more noticeably when putting dry ice in a cocktail.

It is really noticeable in drinks with direct exposure to all that gas and ice. Solid food in a box? I don’t have as much experience with that, so I’m not sure.

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#397

Post by AstralStorm » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 7:24 AM UTC

kalleboo wrote: post #320

60secz wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wouldn't be surprised to see local distribution through grocery stores (whole foods/ralphs) dominate the subscription meal space over the next few years due to better distribution margins and economies of scale.

This is how it works where I lived in Europe. All the big grocery store chains have their own food subscription boxes, and instead of having it delivered home you can also just pick it up at your local supermarket on you way home from work.

Even when delivering, there are minor to moderate efficiencies related to route planning and sometimes electric cars. Electric freezer cars are used, relatively efficient. (dry ice is too expensive and dangerous)

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#398

Post by arkh » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 7:24 AM UTC

idbehold wrote: post #8

Perhaps we should start doing something like what Taiwan did with their trash: https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/separation-anxiety/ > The trucks only accept trash bags officially sanctioned by the government of Taiwan which come in a distinctive blue color, complete with an official seal. The bags range in price and size, from 3 liters to 120 liters. The most popular bag is 25 liters (similar to a tiny bathroom…

> the residents sort their recyclables and compost into thirteen distinct bins

13. There's a moment you have to choose between the fine and getting the fuck out of stupid land. Around 3 different bins will do it for me: consumers waste is nothing compared to industrial waste. Trash sorting is the little act which help some people feel good but helps a lot less than not going on their annual holiday to the other side of the world. It's green theatre.

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#399

Post by soVeryTired » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 7:27 AM UTC

aeternus wrote: post #22

idbehold wrote: post #8

Perhaps we should start doing something like what Taiwan did with their trash: https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/separation-anxiety/ > The trucks only accept trash bags officially sanctioned by the government of Taiwan which come in a distinctive blue color, complete with an official seal. The bags range in price and size, from 3 liters to 120 liters. The most popular bag is 25 liters (similar to a tiny bathroom…

Is careful sorting of trash/recycling really a good use of time? Seems better to put that effort towards development of techniques to sort en-masse. Likely controversial, but I think there is also an argument for simply throwing hard-to-recycle items in a landfill. If consumption continues to increase, it will likely become economically viable to eventually mine those landfills for raw materials.

Is mining something from a landfill really a good use of time?

Re: Plastic recycling is a problem consumers can't solve

#400

Post by monort » Thu, Jun 28, 2018, 7:30 AM UTC

wutbrodo wrote: post #224

mikec3010 wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Assigning me a chore that benefits a business that I pay a service fee for is unacceptable. I'm paying them to take away my waste. If they want to sort it or alphabetize it or apply the Dewey decimal system they're welcome to. But I won't do chores for someone else without an employment agreement and adequate compensation.

Do you feel the same way about putting your trash in bins (or even bags), as opposed to leaving individual items strewn about your lawn for them to pick up? Do you feel the same way about getting your car to the mechanic instead of having him pick it up from wherever you left it? The line you're drawing to define "labor done on behalf of a paid service provider" is laughably ridiculous. The service they provide is "p…

I can get the car picked-up for repair if I want to. Where can I subscribe for a service "picking up unsorted garbage"? The problem is that garbage collectors are granted monopoly and use it to extract free labor from customers.