What justifies from keeping anyone to not implement the ban on single-use plastics right away? Is it just the loss in revenue and labor from the petrochemical industries?
Not having alternatives to replace them with?
Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
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Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#42One way to reduce consumer plastic pollution could be decrease the use of small bottles.
If water came in 1l bottles instead of 20oz bottles people may not just forget about them after a sip. Plus, the volume add uses less plastic than the structural elements of 2 bottles.
Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#43There was a similar thread for Germany here recently, and I remember someone saying that most companies will just start using multi-use plastics instead of single-use ones... without reusing them. Is that really likely or am I not foolish to hope that companies will eventually just research and use more biodegradable materials?
This is what I see in California with the bag ban. People use multi use bags once, resulting in a net increase in plastic use. This is a hard problem. A ban will not fix it and may have perverse effects like increasing usage and pollution. What is so damn bad about paper? Paper is mostly renewable (or can be) and is very biodegradable. Why not just make better paper bags
they're not waterproof (or at least, lose structural integrity when wet), and they have worse climate impact than plastic bags.
Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#44A significant inquiry I have to this in general is what should we do for people for which single-use plastics are exceptionally necessary for their lives? For example, people with disabilities who cannot manage paper straws (due to their collapsing before a drink can be consumed) or metal straws (due to mental strain in keeping track of their cleaning)?
Have you ever used a paper straw? It takes ages for it to dissolve so for most people, event the disabled ones, it is not a problem.
Why do the majority of people need to use a straw anyway?
Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#45A significant inquiry I have to this in general is what should we do for people for which single-use plastics are exceptionally necessary for their lives? For example, people with disabilities who cannot manage paper straws (due to their collapsing before a drink can be consumed) or metal straws (due to mental strain in keeping track of their cleaning)?
The actual announcement says that Canada will ban "harmful" single-use plastics. I’d assume single use plastics that are absolutely required for safety and medical purposes would not be considered harmful.
OK Thanks!
Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#46Can we all agree that plastic packaging has gotten ridiculous? If I buy toys for my kids they're 90% packaging, 10% toy... It's baffling. Who's the consumer demanding this?
Or sugar that used to come in cardboard boxes for decades now coming in plastic bags. And so many glass jars replaced by plastic.
Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#47There was a similar thread for Germany here recently, and I remember someone saying that most companies will just start using multi-use plastics instead of single-use ones... without reusing them. Is that really likely or am I not foolish to hope that companies will eventually just research and use more biodegradable materials?
Here's the recent thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23763265
Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#48A significant inquiry I have to this in general is what should we do for people for which single-use plastics are exceptionally necessary for their lives? For example, people with disabilities who cannot manage paper straws (due to their collapsing before a drink can be consumed) or metal straws (due to mental strain in keeping track of their cleaning)?
Maybe they should check their privilege. Is drinking through a straw more important than the climate, which is the world? /s
Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#49I remember reading somewhere that some bottled product replaced plastic with glass, which weighs more, which led to an increase in trucks required, which led to more of a carbon footprint, which is also bad.
I wonder what prevents them from bottling locally? It's cheaper and better for the environment. It feels like industries can always circumvent these one off laws. They should think of a whole framework of laws.
My understanding is that bottling and container manufacturing are fairly localized. Each large city will usually have a set of bottling plants, to reduce transportation cost.
I think it is easy to underestimate how optimized production and distribution are.
Re: Canada aims to ban single-use plastics by 2021
#50What justifies from keeping anyone to not implement the ban on single-use plastics right away? Is it just the loss in revenue and labor from the petrochemical industries?
Not having alternatives to replace them with?
Paper/jute bags and multi-use plastics have been in circulation for quite some time now.