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Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

theguardian.com

91–100 of 362 posts

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the time will tell and it's better than having no regulations at all. Btw, the consumption of alcohol in Bihar and other states where it's prohibated has reduced significantly- I am not advocating the ban of alcohol, personally I feel it's as a wrong move- after the regulations.

Pray tell me how you found out that Bihar's alcohol ban has worked out? I was under the impression that there is a vibrant black market in Bihar too

Well, I didn't find any substantial reports about the consumption (or reduction in) of alcohol in Bihar after the prohibition after a courtesy look.

And whatever numbers I did find- they were about the reduction in crimes- simply seemed juked and to lure the people.

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#92

Thank goodness somewhere is taking the obvious action of banning the packaging, which is really just pre-garbage. However, banning packaging only works if it is backed by a system for precisely standardised, refundable and washable containers that food and other products can be shipped in. You can't just say "no packaging". We need a MUCH better form of packaging than disposable/recyclable because recycling only work…

The washable aspect is key - they will have to take steps to work on that too. As a foreigner, when I'm in India, I know that I have to pay attention to (for example) which chai sellers the locals know to wash their cups properly, and to make sure that I see bottles of water are properly sealed before I drink from them. Water in particular will be a problem for foreigners if people start selling or serving it in jugs.

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#93

I have been thinking a lot about the plastic problem. Isn't plastic a great way to store carbon in solid form for a long time and prevent it coming back into the atmosphere? I mean, doesn't plastic work the same way the wooden furniture works? Storing carbon away and preventing global warming? If this is the case, perhaps we should look into ways to store plastic in more environment friendly ways instead to trying to…

A better way to store carbon is to make charcoal. Plastic is made from oil, leaving that in the ground is easier than pumping it up, turning it into plastic and then dumping it into the ocean.

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#94

Great. Let's roll this out everywhere. Actually it would be nice to do something about cigeratte butts too.

Just ban cigarettes? They're ridiculous, I don't understand why we allow them.

While it seems appealing, a cigarette ban would cause enormous damage, much much higher than the damage from cigarettes themselves. Just look at the worldwide War on Drugs, which is finally starting to wind down here and there. Or alcohol Prohibition in the USA.

But heavy fines for improper disposal should be ok.

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#95

Great. Let's roll this out everywhere. Actually it would be nice to do something about cigeratte butts too.

You could ban cellulose acetate filters, which do not readily degrade. One day we may figure out how to make cigarette filters that are more biodegradable. I also recall reading about a group training birds to collect cigarette butts.

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really, new paper is mostly produced from recycled paper. What destroys the jungle is deforestation to create farmlands.

I didn't down vote you. Just want to point out that deforestation to create farmlands also includes tree plantations. Tree farms , as it were. I live in Tasmania, which is notorious for chopping down old-growth forest, wood chip it mostly for paper products, and replace it with plantation timber.

It happened also in my homeland: Cantabria. I just think that the need for paper is mostly replaced by recycled paper, at least in theory.

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think the time will tell and it's better than having no regulations at all. Btw, the consumption of alcohol in Bihar and other states where it's prohibated has reduced significantly- I am not advocating the ban of alcohol, personally I feel it's as a wrong move- after the regulations.

Pray tell me how you found out that Bihar's alcohol ban has worked out? I was under the impression that there is a vibrant black market in Bihar too

The answer is a simple google search away. It’s worked out pretty well with all sorts of social indicators trending better.

An alcohol ban doesn’t need to lead to 100% reduction to be deemed a success. In fact it almost certainly won’t. It just needs to make things reasonably better than they were before.

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#98
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I don't understand why we allow them. because some people like them. Should we ban Alcohol, fast food and sugar as well?

People like cocaine too; enjoyment of something isn't grounds to keep it legal. Smoking (and alcohol) just can't be made illegal now; the US tried that for a couple of years, and all it managed to do was give rise to organized crime and illegal (and dangerous) manufacture of alcohol. In my country, smoking and alcohol are more passively discouraged; high taxes, a ban on advertising, strict age checks, and (for smokin…

Cocaine should made legal too, with all the measures which you listed.

If people like something, they will try anything to get it, if its illegal is just goes underground.

Re: Mumbai bans plastic bags, bottles, and single-use plastic containers

#100
post #4

When will US cities do the same? Most restaurants offer plastic togo containers, which ends up in the landfill. Some restaurants even use plastic bowls and plates for dine-in customers, arguably so they don’t have to invest in equipment and labor to wash dishes. With The China recycling ban, this becomes more of a pressing issue. I’m surprised cities aren’t outright banning or imposing a tax on the use of plastics at…

An American family I visited a while ago would use paper plates and plastic forks for every meal at home to save on dishes. I was shocked, but they seemed to think it was standard behaviour in the US. Is it?

Every time I visit I’m shocked how much single-use plastics is used, daily. It’s part of the culture and thus hard to change
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