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Coffee Cups Are Next

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271–280 of 447 posts

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#271
post #254

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They do. In Scotland the tap water is really good (unlike where I live now). There are still large sections of the supermarket with bottled water.

Pretty much anywhere you go outside of larger cities in Scotland(if you like outdoorsy stuff like I do) has warnings that tap water is supplied directly from the nearest stream/river/lake and is unsafe to drink untreated. I'm perfectly happy to drink tap water nearly anywhere in the UK but any time we go camping in Scotland bottled water is a must because safe tap water is a rarity.

I guess it's possible that such places exist that have a private water supply - but in general tap water in Scotland is perfectly safe and tastes lovely. I've certainly never seen a sign anywhere in Scotland that warns about the tap water not being safe.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#272

First they came for plastic bags. Then they came for straws. Coffee cups are next. Straws are a hot button topic in disabled circles.

I have my own straw I take with. Is there a reason a disabled person can't do the same?

AFAIK the main issue is that people with disabilities usually require bendable straws.

Reusable and bendable typically makes the straw hard to clean.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#273

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…

I feel like dirty dishes have been a problem in every place I have worked. Have any companies wised up and installed a dishwasher in each kitchen, and have someone assigned to run them every night? Or even just pay someone to wash the dishes by hand?

I'd like segregated kitchens. One with a lock, that only trustworthy people are permitted to use, and one for the filthy scumbags to use :)

I'm smiling, but I'm also serious. I could go for such a system.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#274
post #132
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Floridan here. All coastal bars/restaurants must have paper straws. Generally, they're single drink use. You might get a second glass worth if you drink fast. I don't really notice a wax on them. If they happen to have any.... they might as well not bother. I'm a born/raised Floridian, so I grew up on all the propaganda about ocean life getting tortured by soda rings, straws and other garbage. One of my transplant fr…

Floridian here too, Jaxson to be exact. You must be in south Florida or somewhere not near North Florida. There's no ban here on straws at the beaches. Southern Florida is much more progressive than North Florida (See any election result). We're basically Southern Georgia.

Still red where I’m at. But we get actual tourists down here :P

In truth, I’m not opposed to the paper straws. They’re only really annoying when you’re at a bar. Alcohol seems to unwrap them faster than soda. I can let them sit in a non alcohol drink for a good 30 min before I notice an issue. Rum & coke... eh... 15? Just means I have to drink faster and drink more :)

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What’s wrong with paper (or biodegradable plastic) straws, besides costing an extra penny or whatever?

The problem is paper straws already suck on their own and disintegrate quickly in a regular cup. It's worse when you use a PLA (biodegradable/compostable) plastic cup with a paper straw. This is because PLA is usually much stiffer than PET or PS lids so you end up with the lid pinching off the straw in its death grip. I asked a disabled person with cerebral palsy about what he thought of paper straws. His answer: "I…

Unsurprisingly, higher quality paper straws have blossomed in the market since the ban was passed in San Francisco. Actually, I find most paper straws in SF to be quite good now.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#276
With reusable cups I have observed a psychological barrier with myself. I was unwilling to use it when it felt "awkward" (i.e. I'm likely the only person asking to use my own cup the whole day).

However lately it became more common (I live in Germany), more shops offer discounts if you bring your own cup, more likely that the person in front of you also has a reusable cup.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I worked in an office with company mugs and a pair of dishwashers. It was great. We had no problems at all.

Ohhh, the perfect alternating clean dishwasher and dirty dishwasher approach so you never have to queue with the sink or cabinets. My dream home will have 2 dishwashers for that reason.

Even better is to have the kitchen cabinets accept dishwasher racks. Then clearing out the dishwasher is simple. You need 3 racks (and one dishwasher):

Rack 1: in the dishwasher being washed

Rack 2: in the cabinet of clean dishes

Rack 3: set out to be filled with dirty dishes

Cheaper than an extra dishwasher!

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#278

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…

My office had a lot of ceramic cups that were taken by employees from the cabinet, used and left wherever in the kitchenette. There was one dedicated employee whose main job was to gather the cups and put them in the dishwasher and after they are cleaned, put them back in the cabinet. Dishwasher ran constantly and that employee kept kitchenette neat in between of cup handling. I think there were even two dishwashers…

these kind of jobs are cut first when troubles come to the company... and so everybody literally feels we're in trouble

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#279
post #142

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I once innocently and accidentally strayed into the disabled-straw debate. My Twitter responses were quite the scene for a few days after. From memory, it's considered yet another imposition on someone who already has enough struggles to deal with. They might forget, etc. I can't remember what the argument is against straws being kept under the counter and only given on request.

Why not just sell the metal or bamboo ones everywhere? I'm pretty sure after the 10th time forgetting the extra cost will be a great reminder.

At this point we’re supposed to carry the following non-disposable items with us, or pay at every step during the day:

- shopping bags - coffee cup - water bottle - straws

Who wants to carry all this garbage? Nobody. Give us all a break.

Re: Coffee Cups Are Next

#280
post #237
post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This just hurts to read... It is almost as bad as the somewhat inexplicable growth in bottled water in places where tap water is perfectly acceptable. In fact many of the branded bottles of water are not spring water but bottled tap water.

To take things from a different perspective, I find people judging what others ought consider acceptable to be inexplicable. I find people buying $200 sneakers that offer no significant performance improvement over much cheaper alternatives to be 'inexplicable.' I find people buying $1000 phones when a $200 phone would perform literally 100% of a purchaser's tasks to 100% acceptability, to be 'inexplicable'. I even f…

I’m with you all the way, so long as externalities are priced in.
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