85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics • Hacker News Board

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#61

Post by mjamesaustin » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:23 PM UTC

Rucadi wrote: post #35

colordrops wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What makes you say that? I support a ban and I totally understand that it will involve some pain until we adjust. Why would you believe others don't understand this?

People are already in power to ban single-use plastic, they can buy stuff that is more expensive or less convenient to get. This gives a signal to the market that if a lot of people does it, they should move in that direction to meet the demand. However, this is not what it's happening, and that's because people appreciate that something is cheaper thanks to single-use plastic of because they are not so interested in…

People bought lead paint and asbestos in droves too before those were banned.

Just because something is cheap and accessible doesn't mean people understand how it impacts their lives. With studies coming out routinely showing the dramatic damage microplastics are causing to our environment and even inside our own bodies, it's only a matter of time before we come to our senses and stop it.

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#62

Post by 0xEF » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:23 PM UTC

crooked-v wrote: post #5

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #3

Is there a good substitute for cling wrap? I mostly store food in reusable containers. And I try to use foil as much as possible. But some things are irregularly shaped and need a tight seal, and I’ve struggled to find a good alternative.

Slightly larger reusable containers? There are also plenty of varieties of reusable ziploc-style bag out there, including ones in jumbo sizes.

That and being a bit more conscious of our consumer choices. If you jave that much left over, try keeping a food journal for the sake of getting a better idea of how much we actually consume in a month, then adjust your purchasing weights and quantities.

My wife and I did this about a year ago in effort to make some dietary changes, but it also happily resulted in less left-overs and slightly lower grocery expenses.

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#63

Post by bagels » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:23 PM UTC

blackle wrote: post #42

AlexandrB wrote: post #14

I'll admit I was a little skeptical of plastic bag bans here in Canada, but it's had a noticeable effect on how much random garbage ends up stuck in hedges and fences where I live. Adapting to it wasn't too bad and good reusable bags are a lot more ergonomic and don't tear as easily when carrying heavy loads.

I fully agree, however if you're the kind of person who orders groceries, then what ends up happening is that you start collecting reusable bags that you have no way of reusing. I hope that someone starts some kind of "reusable bag recycling" system so I can give the scores of bags I have to a good home

It's really a farce. The old bags were really, really thin. Now, they're reuseable, and so they have to be much thicker, but they're still only used once. This just means that we're making more plastic waste.

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#64

Post by Carrok » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:23 PM UTC

bigstrat2003 wrote: post #53

Carrok wrote: post #45

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seconded. Plastic bag bans here in Colorado have been fantastic from my view. Far less trash everywhere, and we use better bags that can carry more without failing catastrophically in the parking lot.

The plastic bag ban in Colorado has been awful. I would much rather go back to before.

Why? I haven't used a disposable plastic bag in a decade, and don't miss them in the least. What issue do you have with it?

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#65

Post by haileys » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:23 PM UTC

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #31

haileys wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

vacuum containers

I have a vacuum sealer, but their bags are plastic. Is there an eco-friendly Food Saver bag that doesn’t require commercial composting?

There are hard plastic containers, like regular reusable food containers, that have good seals and little vacuum pumps on the lid. You actuate the lid pump a bit and it removes enough air from the container to keep food for a bit longer.

It's not magical, it won't keep food forever. But neither does cling wrap.

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#66

Post by ok123456 » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:24 PM UTC

emiliobumachar wrote: post #9

Crap. Most of the substitutes have a bigger ecological footprint, even if you don't care at all about cost and comfort. Those reusable shopping bags need to be actually reused , several dozen if not hundreds of times, to be ecological. How many times have you used your last one?

Substitutes like reusing shipping boxes like they do at Costco?

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#67

Post by ImPleadThe5th » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:24 PM UTC

blackle wrote: post #42

AlexandrB wrote: post #14

I'll admit I was a little skeptical of plastic bag bans here in Canada, but it's had a noticeable effect on how much random garbage ends up stuck in hedges and fences where I live. Adapting to it wasn't too bad and good reusable bags are a lot more ergonomic and don't tear as easily when carrying heavy loads.

I fully agree, however if you're the kind of person who orders groceries, then what ends up happening is that you start collecting reusable bags that you have no way of reusing. I hope that someone starts some kind of "reusable bag recycling" system so I can give the scores of bags I have to a good home

Good idea! But unfortunately the reason I always have more bags is that I forget my bags in the first place.

Maybe you get a few cents back when you return them?

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#68

Post by ars » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:24 PM UTC

Carrok wrote: post #26

lykahb wrote: post #18

A ban like that sounds good. But what would replace those plastics? For the take-out food containers a common alternative is PFAS-treated paper. Is it much better for the health environment?

Local restaurants here have started using DeliveryZero which is a reusable container program, you just take the containers back to a drop point. That and plenty of places use non-PFAS-treated thicker paperboard. Those are also great in my experience.

> you just take the containers back to a drop point.

If someone drives to drop off the container they have uses way more resources than they would just using a disposable. I suspect this idea is just greenwashing.

> thicker paperboard

Which again uses more resources, and emits more CO2, than plastic.

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#69

Post by zeeveener » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:24 PM UTC

blackle wrote: post #42

AlexandrB wrote: post #14

I'll admit I was a little skeptical of plastic bag bans here in Canada, but it's had a noticeable effect on how much random garbage ends up stuck in hedges and fences where I live. Adapting to it wasn't too bad and good reusable bags are a lot more ergonomic and don't tear as easily when carrying heavy loads.

I fully agree, however if you're the kind of person who orders groceries, then what ends up happening is that you start collecting reusable bags that you have no way of reusing. I hope that someone starts some kind of "reusable bag recycling" system so I can give the scores of bags I have to a good home

In my area, one of our grocery chains has "Compostable Bags" which they package the "Pickup / Delivery" orders in.

My area also mandates municipal composting so the discussion of "But is it _really_ compostable" is moot.

Re: 85% of People Want Global Ban on Single-Use Plastics

#70

Post by DataDive » Wed, Jun 05, 2024, 7:24 PM UTC

emiliobumachar wrote: post #9

Crap. Most of the substitutes have a bigger ecological footprint, even if you don't care at all about cost and comfort. Those reusable shopping bags need to be actually reused , several dozen if not hundreds of times, to be ecological. How many times have you used your last one?

> Those reusable shopping bags [...] How many times have you used your last one?

This reply blew my mind ... when you realize someone must have the exact opposite experience ...

of course I use the reusable bags,

they are in the trunk, and first step after pulling into the parking spot is to take these out the trunk and head into the store

in the last 5 years used only my reusable shopping bag every time except in a few cases when I forgot to put the bags back in the trunk for some reason (usually, I needed to transport bigger things)