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Fish are eating lots of plastic

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71–80 of 119 posts

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#71

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know that fish is a type of meat, right?

Lots of cultures don't class fish in with most meats. In traditional Catholicism the rule against meat on Fridays didn't apply to fish and likewise with Japanese Buddhist rules against meat eating. It's sort of like how most people consider tomatoes to be vegetables even though they aren't, scientifically. Yeah, in 21st century English fish is a meat but it's non-centrally meat so the meaning is clear when you apply…

Judism also doesn't consider fish meat for the purposes of Kosher-ness.

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#72
post #46

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Catholics don't consider fish meat. I'm not sure what they think it is, maybe some sort of creepily mobile mushroom?

And some Buddhist and Hindu sects consider mushrooms to be meat.

Not as meat. For some Hindus anyway mushrooms and leeks are prohibited just like meat.

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#73

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know that fish is a type of meat, right?

Lots of cultures don't class fish in with most meats. In traditional Catholicism the rule against meat on Fridays didn't apply to fish and likewise with Japanese Buddhist rules against meat eating. It's sort of like how most people consider tomatoes to be vegetables even though they aren't, scientifically. Yeah, in 21st century English fish is a meat but it's non-centrally meat so the meaning is clear when you apply…

> Yeah, in 21st century English fish is a meat

Having spent the best part of the last 17 years speaking 21st century English, this is a surprisingly strong assertion to me.

From http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/115517:

> The flesh of animals used as food, esp. excluding fish...

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know that fish is a type of meat, right?

I've found that "meat" is sometimes used in casual English as "Animal muscle/meat, but not fish" I think there's a slight conceptual divide on both the hard-carnivore-against-fish and pescatarian groups. Old world traditions tend to distinguish them separately as well.

> I've found that "meat" is sometimes used in casual English as "Animal muscle/meat, but not fish"

But also often monophylectically as "mammal muscle/meat".

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#75
post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I'm sort of banking on that. I expect our landfills will be mined by junkers. I'm sorry, but all you're doing in reality (whether you realize it or not) is finding some vague resemblance of a justification for our irresponsible culture. I would either try to do something to address the problem or just avoid trying to keep up hopes like this. It only makes people feel better about not helping without actually solvin…

if only we were all as wise and ethical as you

This violates the HN guidelines. Please don't do that regardless of how wrong or annoying another comment is.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#76
post #40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If mining for plastics were ever to become profitable without emissions trading, artificial subsidies, or some sort of a carbon tax, it would essentially mean the end of civilization had already occurred.

It would just mean that manufacturers were expected to account for the entire lifecycle of their product. Currently you can flood the world with cheap, disposable junk, profit handsomely, and leave everyone else with the waste disposal problem. If use of new plastics vs recycled plastic were penalized or taxed it could have this effect, as a result of a more rigidly regulated civilization, rather than a collapse.

Why manufacturers? If waste disposal had to be paid for, people would start adjusting the retail price by adding the disposal price.

Not sure where you live but in my town I pay 7€ per bin container (approx 50l) for non-recyclable waste but the recyclable stuff is free (which is probably still too cheap)

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#77
post #47

I really wish plastics were recycled/reused a lot more, because they are such ideal materials --- being rather unreactive, flexible, resilient, and (in the case of thermoplastics, which make up the bulk of this waste) easily reprocessed. Although the throwaway culture and low cost means that a lot of it doesn't, I wonder if in the future, if the prices go up in following petroleum trends, "mining" for plastics would…

There is a lot of plastic waste your not allowed to put in the recycle bin, such as plastic wrappers for food.

That depends on where you live. I can put plastic wrappers in the recycling bin just fine.

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#78

I recently began bodybuilding and have been relying on canned tuna for protein. I eat other sources, but eat at least 1 to 2 cans daily. Is the plastic worse than the mercury? What would be a healthy, affordable, and easy to prepare (this is very important) alternative? Also, is canned tuna a US thing? How often do you consume canned tuna?

Eggs are pretty easy to prepare. So are various dairy products.

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#79

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It would just mean that manufacturers were expected to account for the entire lifecycle of their product. Currently you can flood the world with cheap, disposable junk, profit handsomely, and leave everyone else with the waste disposal problem. If use of new plastics vs recycled plastic were penalized or taxed it could have this effect, as a result of a more rigidly regulated civilization, rather than a collapse.

Why manufacturers? If waste disposal had to be paid for, people would start adjusting the retail price by adding the disposal price. Not sure where you live but in my town I pay 7€ per bin container (approx 50l) for non-recyclable waste but the recyclable stuff is free (which is probably still too cheap)

How do they deal with public trash bins on sidewalks, etc.? Are there none? If there are any, what's to prevent people dumping their garbage there and avoiding the fee? And what about homeless or otherwise poor people who don't have the means to pay?

Re: Fish are eating lots of plastic

#80
post #77
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a lot of plastic waste your not allowed to put in the recycle bin, such as plastic wrappers for food.

That depends on where you live. I can put plastic wrappers in the recycling bin just fine.

Without food having touched them, I'm assuming, right?

I'm pretty sure I've heard they just can't deal with grease from food in the recycling. (Not that they don't try to address a bit of it, but that any significant amount ruins their batches or something.)

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