Live data from Hacker News

The Japanese philosophy for a no-waste world

bbc.com

1–10 of 47 posts

Re: The Japanese philosophy for a no-waste world

#6
I know these Japan stories for Americans might be awe-inspiring, but man if there isn't crap loads of waste from all the products they sell here. Yesterday during my grocery shopping each individual glass container product got its own separate paper bag, meat was given a plastic bag even thought it was already wrapped in plastic and my juices got another plastic bag. Even the wines I got were given this plastic wrap, just not to hit each other.

I get that compared to the US the recycling here might be better (and yeah, I do need to separate my trash), but this is pure "oh so mysterious and oriental Japan so great" article. What help is recycling for if you're producing insane amounts of unnecessary waste.

Re: The Japanese philosophy for a no-waste world

#7

See also lots of single-use plastic: * https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220823-quitting-single-...

Yeah. It’s a dichotomy. On the one hand there is more full use of foodstuffs but single use plastic is a big waste as well as housing where they prefer to demo houses and buildings rather than renovate them. Building lifespan in Japan is btwn 30 and 40 years.

Re: The Japanese philosophy for a no-waste world

#8
post #6

I know these Japan stories for Americans might be awe-inspiring, but man if there isn't crap loads of waste from all the products they sell here. Yesterday during my grocery shopping each individual glass container product got its own separate paper bag, meat was given a plastic bag even thought it was already wrapped in plastic and my juices got another plastic bag. Even the wines I got were given this plastic wrap,…

[flagged]

Re: The Japanese philosophy for a no-waste world

#9
post #3

Also see this town https://www.core77.com/posts/125980/This-Japanese-Town-Sorts... .)

That's interesting, but

> 12. Unrecyclable garbage that can only be landfilled: Seashells, nail polish, chemical hand warmers, ...

Surely there is a better place for seashells than a landfill?

Re: The Japanese philosophy for a no-waste world

#10
post #6

I know these Japan stories for Americans might be awe-inspiring, but man if there isn't crap loads of waste from all the products they sell here. Yesterday during my grocery shopping each individual glass container product got its own separate paper bag, meat was given a plastic bag even thought it was already wrapped in plastic and my juices got another plastic bag. Even the wines I got were given this plastic wrap,…

I still have the mental image of that SINGLE banana wrapped in plastic in a random 7-11 I went to during my trip to Japan a few months ago.

Hard to keep a straight face reading that headline with that image burned in my mind.

Post reply on HN