I totally disagree with the folks on the daily thread that say that banning plastic straws won't make a difference. It actually makes a huge difference.
I just drove for three weeks through western Canada and the one thing I noticed is that Canada has a lot less trash on the roadways than does the U.S. There are several reasons for this, …
I totally disagree with the folks on the daily thread that say that banning plastic straws won't make a difference. It actually makes a huge difference.
I just drove for three weeks through western Canada and the one thing I noticed is that Canada has a lot less trash on the roadways than does the U.S. There are several reasons for this, but one of the main reasons is that Canada is in the process of banning all plastic straws and plastic utensils.
[They also have better garbage cleanup -- trash collection is a utility that is mostly free to all (paid by higher taxes of course) and there are trash cans and recycling cans every few miles along major Canadian roadways.].
The nation is very clean. We are pathetic in comparison.
It's absolutely pathetic that we don't completely ban all plastic bags, utensils and straws. There is zero reason why we shouldn't have done so years ago.
I do agree with you we needed to phase out single use plastics yesterday even if the compostable ones are more brittle and paper straws are pretty much useless 1 drink in. There's too much plastic floating around and most of it can't be recycled so it gets incinerated anyway.
At the same time I hope the chemists at UC Berkeley who told the LA Times they managed to melt plastic down into its base compounds for reuse (currently whatever plastic can be recyclable has to be ground down into finite particles for reuse) are onto something.
Currently, recycling isn’t really making much of an impact on the environment. In fact, the recycling system needs to be regulated so that it’s intended purpose is met.
I work for my state DOT, so I drive around a lot. And here, most of the litter I see on the side of the road isn't plastic stuff - it's aluminum cans, probably mostly beer cans.
Unless those are outlawed, there won't be any significant reduction of roadside litter here.
California passed CRV and started redemption in 1987. It worked effectively for years, but currently most of the private recycling center companies have gone BK.
For the first few years people would scavenge for littered CRV containers, but it has become less effective as it's harder to get your deposit back.
I use very little that comes in cans or bottles, so I just dispose of that when I do in curbside recycling.
I also buy as much as I can from bulk containers (WinCo and a spice company in Costa Mesa) and use paper bags to reduce plastic consumption.
When California started curbside composting, I got rid of my compost pile too. I composted for years while in a wheelchair, but it was a pain in the ass, so I liked the alternative.
Personally, I think a deposit on each and every container, such as ten cents, which you get back when you recycle, is better than getting money via weight.
Part of it is altruism and part is squeaking by after becoming disabled out of the blue at 52 and deciding to continue to live in SoCal, one of the most expensive places in the country.
I totally disagree with the folks on the daily thread that say that banning plastic straws won't make a difference. It actually makes a huge difference.
I just drove for three weeks through western Canada and the one thing I noticed is that Canada has a lot less trash on the roadways than does the U.S. There are several reasons for this, but one of the main reasons is that Canada is in the process of banning all plastic straws and plastic utensils.
[They also have better garbage cleanup -- trash collection is a utility that is mostly free to all (paid by higher taxes of course) and there are trash cans and recycling cans every few miles along major Canadian roadways.].
The nation is very clean. We are pathetic in comparison.
It's absolutely pathetic that we don't completely ban all plastic bags, utensils and straws. There is zero reason why we shouldn't have done so years ago.
I do agree with you we needed to phase out single use plastics yesterday even if the compostable ones are more brittle and paper straws are pretty much useless 1 drink in. There's too much plastic floating around and most of it can't be recycled so it gets incinerated anyway.
At the same time I hope the chemists at UC Berkeley who told the LA Times they managed to melt plastic down into its base compounds for reuse (currently whatever plastic can be recyclable has to be ground down into finite particles for reuse) are onto something.
https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2024-09-03/has-a-uc-berkeley-lab-found-a-solution-to-plastic-recycling
Give them all the grant money.
Currently, recycling isn’t really making much of an impact on the environment. In fact, the recycling system needs to be regulated so that it’s intended purpose is met.
India and China have both banned single use plastic bags. (A while ago at this point)
I work for my state DOT, so I drive around a lot. And here, most of the litter I see on the side of the road isn't plastic stuff - it's aluminum cans, probably mostly beer cans.
Unless those are outlawed, there won't be any significant reduction of roadside litter here.
Well that's pathetic. Here in Oregon there are no aluminum cans strewn about because every can is worth ten cents at a recycling center.
Easy problem to fix.
California passed CRV and started redemption in 1987. It worked effectively for years, but currently most of the private recycling center companies have gone BK.
For the first few years people would scavenge for littered CRV containers, but it has become less effective as it's harder to get your deposit back.
I use very little that comes in cans or bottles, so I just dispose of that when I do in curbside recycling.
I also buy as much as I can from bulk containers (WinCo and a spice company in Costa Mesa) and use paper bags to reduce plastic consumption.
When California started curbside composting, I got rid of my compost pile too. I composted for years while in a wheelchair, but it was a pain in the ass, so I liked the alternative.
Thank you for doing all you do.
What is BK?
Personally, I think a deposit on each and every container, such as ten cents, which you get back when you recycle, is better than getting money via weight.
BK = bankrupt.
Part of it is altruism and part is squeaking by after becoming disabled out of the blue at 52 and deciding to continue to live in SoCal, one of the most expensive places in the country.
And in Canada, movie theater patrons pick up after themselves and aren’t slobs.
Love Canada.