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Coffee Cups Are Next

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Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#211

Post by mikekchar »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #126
mikekchar wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm genuinely interested in understanding what you have to say. It's difficult to understand though, since the only difference in our situations seems to be that you want to use plastic bags and I don't. When people are rebutting your arguments, I don't get the feeling that they don't want to understand what you are saying. Rather, I feel that they don't want to agree with what you are saying. It is very possible tha…

I'm genuinely interested in understanding what you have to say. It's difficult to understand though, since the only difference in our situations seems to be that you want to use plastic bags and I don't. I have a diagnosis of atypical cystic fibrosis. I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you do not. Germ control is a really, really big thing in my life. It is very possible that we are all missing something integ…

> But that can't happen as long as the entire fucking world sees a different experience and different point of view as a threat to their precious status quo that must be shot down before it has any hope of taking root.

And now I invite you to try to understand my feelings. If you want it not to be "the whole fucking world" to shoot someone down simply because they have a different experience and different point of view, it's really got to start somewhere. You might keep in mind that my initial interaction in the conversation was an offer to try to understand your point of view.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#212

Post by seer »

DoreenMichele wrote: post #126
mikekchar wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm genuinely interested in understanding what you have to say. It's difficult to understand though, since the only difference in our situations seems to be that you want to use plastic bags and I don't. When people are rebutting your arguments, I don't get the feeling that they don't want to understand what you are saying. Rather, I feel that they don't want to agree with what you are saying. It is very possible tha…

I'm genuinely interested in understanding what you have to say. It's difficult to understand though, since the only difference in our situations seems to be that you want to use plastic bags and I don't. I have a diagnosis of atypical cystic fibrosis. I'm going to take a wild guess and assume you do not. Germ control is a really, really big thing in my life. It is very possible that we are all missing something integ…

A genuine question - can’t you buy a stack of plastic bags and just bring some of them with you?

When they introduced the ban on plastic bags in my country, it was more a ban on supermarkets selling them alongside your normal purchase, but you still can buy a stack of a few hundred in speciality shops, and just use that.

And if you forget to bring your own you can always buy the pristine reusable ones at a small cost.

At least here thats how a lot of people protested the ban for a few years - just brought they’re own plastic bags.

Maybe they are banned outright? No way to “smuggle in” a stack or something?

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#213

Post by [deleted] »

mrbonner wrote: post #143
satori99 wrote: post #96

A former workplace of mine mandated that no-one was allowed to use re-usable coffee mugs at all. This was done because of the mass of dirty, moldy cups that seemed to fill every kitchenette in a multi-floor building. The business was a media organization and it seemed to me like reporters were the worst culprits. The company provided styrofoam cups which were consumed at a enormous rate, and this was deemed to be a b…

At my workplace there are occasions when some people just push their own glasses, cups or bottle waters up touching the nozzle. It is so unsanitary. When we have the disposable cups this kind of issue wouldn’t happen.

[deleted]

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#214

Post by Stratoscope »

verelo wrote: post #176
mrbonner wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

At my workplace there are occasions when some people just push their own glasses, cups or bottle waters up touching the nozzle. It is so unsanitary. When we have the disposable cups this kind of issue wouldn’t happen.

"It is so unsanitary." Is it really that bad? As in, so bad it justifies the amount of waste the alternatives produce? I'm sure it's not the worst thing you deal with on a daily basis i.e. door handles are pretty gross.

> door handles are pretty gross.

Indeed they are. I am probably weird, but when I walk into our building I have a paper towel in my hand to grab the door handle. In fact there are two door handles, one from the parking lot and one into the building, so I use one side of the paper towel first, then fold it in half with a clean side on the outside and use that for the building door handle.

Similarly at the cafeteria. I use a "clean hand, dirty hand" system there. My right hand gets dirty handling shared serving utensils, while my left hand stays clean handling fresh plates and such. And then before I eat I find a way to inconspicuously wash my dirty hand. Especially when I've gone to the salad bar and gotten icky sticky salad dressing on my dirty hand. Now that is gross.

Weird? For sure. But at the age of 67 my immune system is probably not as good as it was when I was 20-something.

It's been working so far. I seem to be one of the few people in the office who hasn't been out with a bad cold this year.

Yes, those paper towels are pure waste. I toss them in the compost bin, and I'm grateful to have used them.

Edit: if any of the multiple downvoters could mention what they objected to here, I would be genuinely grateful for the feedback so I can do a better job with my comments. Or if it's something I should have figured out on my own, I will do my best to sort it out. :-) Thanks!

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#215

Post by sumedh »

Stratoscope wrote: post #214
verelo wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"It is so unsanitary." Is it really that bad? As in, so bad it justifies the amount of waste the alternatives produce? I'm sure it's not the worst thing you deal with on a daily basis i.e. door handles are pretty gross.

> door handles are pretty gross. Indeed they are. I am probably weird, but when I walk into our building I have a paper towel in my hand to grab the door handle. In fact there are two door handles, one from the parking lot and one into the building, so I use one side of the paper towel first, then fold it in half with a clean side on the outside and use that for the building door handle. Similarly at the cafeteria. I…

> I seem to be one of the few people in the office who hasn't been out with a bad cold this year.

Probably because your immune system is good?

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#216

Post by seer »

I always feel weird reading all the drama regarding waste management in US. Of all countries I would have thought they would understand market economics the most.

If cleaning up waste is an externality, can’t you add in the price of that cleaning into the thing itself, thus doing that would be an economic activity in and off itself.

For example a plastic cup costs 1c to produce, but 1 dollar to clean up. Well can’t you force the price to be 1.01 and be done with it. then if you clean up after yourself you can “get that deposit back” or if you don’t care for it - someone will, because it would earn them a dollar?

I think Germany has a system like that and I’ve heard that it works for them - both socially and in that it keeps things clean. Though I’ve not been there personally to verify.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#217

Post by mattigames »

joecool1029 wrote: post #189
mattigames wrote: post #94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think you and people with similar points are exaggerating, dipping the straws in a pot full of water until it boils and then using straw-cleaning tools such as this one is more than enough https://i.imgur.com/OeRC2Gz.jpg

> I think you and people with similar points are exaggerating I hardly think I am exaggerating by stating this concern. The development of one-time use cups (like dixie cups) was primarily to address sanitary issues. I can see lipstick on a glass, I can't see funky residue inside a straw. I've discussed issues with soap use at some cafes that use reusable ceramics (as it can leave a residue and affect the flavor). On…

At some point in history washing dishes WAS a lesser know process, what happened? Well, it stopped being a lesser know process once it became the cultural norm, the same could happen with cleaning straws -or any other sanitation-.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#218

Post by dagss »

The US still uses landfills?

Around here (Northern Europe) (non-recycled) garbage has been burned for heat & electricity for a long time. Garbage is sometimes shipped between cities for this purpose (i.e. purchased)

I always assumed garbage was valuable in this way and that use of landfills was due to unavailable tech at the time. But perhaps the burning of garbage must be subsidized/have a high cost for processors...

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#220

Post by dsego »

Stratoscope wrote: post #214
verelo wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"It is so unsanitary." Is it really that bad? As in, so bad it justifies the amount of waste the alternatives produce? I'm sure it's not the worst thing you deal with on a daily basis i.e. door handles are pretty gross.

> door handles are pretty gross. Indeed they are. I am probably weird, but when I walk into our building I have a paper towel in my hand to grab the door handle. In fact there are two door handles, one from the parking lot and one into the building, so I use one side of the paper towel first, then fold it in half with a clean side on the outside and use that for the building door handle. Similarly at the cafeteria. I…

Wash both hands before eating, problem solved.
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