Why I hate the world today, Part Two: Plastic

[kettunainen]

I have learned recently that plastic does not decompose. Ever. All the plastic that has ever been made will be around forever. Isn't that a nice thought?

Here's the reality, especially as it relates to our oceans:
Our oceans are turning into plastic...are we?

Twenty-three countries, including Germany, South Africa, and Australia, have banned,

Comments

[alexisyael]

I'm quite fond of my TO library bag :D Though actually, Mobile's library bag is pretty sturdy, too, and holds more, but the handles aren't quite as nice...

String bags are FABULOUS for holding lots of stuff -- I try not to load them with heavier items (gallon jugs of milk, for example) b/c the handles are not comfy, but for produce and such, they ROCK.

And another favorite bag of mine is the green bag we got from Whole Foods.

We just started using bio bags for our dog. Haven't switched to bio bags for trash or produce, but I think that will be next.

I am absolutely disgusted by how little plastics they recycle here, too. (TO is much better! And TO's plastics recycling isn't nearly as good as the one in Northern CA).

[kettunainen]

We mostly reuse other plastic bags for Kiska poo, but when we run low, we use Scoopies (bio-doggie bags).

TO expanded their plastic recycling to everything plastic. I doubt most of it gets recycled, but I think their reasoning is, 'Please give us everything you've got and we'll sort things out here. You, the public, have proven yourself unintelligent enough to be able to figure things out by yourself, and we're tired of recyclable plastic getting tossed because you don't want to have to think too hard. So we're taking over the job, k? Thx.'

[tamago23]

AFAIA, many companies have switched over to using starch packing peanuts as versus the foam packing peanuts. The starch ones are actually cheaper and work almost as well, so there's a good financial incentive for companies to switch. (Yes, I did try a starch packing peanut once, just out of curiosity. It tasted about how you'd expect: dry and unpleasant.)

BTW, in that usage, it'd be "retch", not "wretch". :)

Dominion has a plastic-bag recycling program, which is nice.

[kettunainen]

spelling duly noted and changed (thank you!)

also good to know about Dominion.

[lepke]

i have noticed a whole lot of people using re-usable bags (and re using plastic bags)

i have been trying to not use plastic bags, and i think i'm going to make myself a grocery bag(s) too.

next step...?

[kettunainen]

ooo, making and marketing reusable grocery bags would be a very good thing for Plum Judy. Definitely.

[ewtikins]

You know you can cut up plastic bags into loops, loop them together and then crochet that into a very strong re-usable plastic shopping bag?

[kettunainen]

I would totally love to see a pic of this. My brain almost has an image of it but not quite. Sounds awesome, though!

[the_moogie]

I think we need to put some scientists in a room and not let them out until they come up with something not so dangerous as plastic. Of course if they're clever enough to do that they're probably clever enough to get out of the room long before they figure out how to replace plastic. Cancel that plan. Release the scientists.

[kettunainen]

they're doing ok with developing materials from vegetable matter, like corn or potato starch/cellulose or something like that. at least there are things in the works that are comparable in usability and far better environmentally. there's definitely going to be a greater demand for such things, too, so the money makers (well, the smart ones, anyway) will be happy, too.

[hazelbranch]

Grassroots carries some garbage bags that are made of corn, but they didn't have any in the store when we were there last night - just he Seventh Generation recycled plastic garbage bags. Still, I'm always nervous when potential food items are being used for another non-edible use (like ethanol) as I wonder if it is essentially taking food away from people somewhere or driving up prices so local peoples can no longer afford it. Lesser of two evils though I guess.

[kettunainen]

I'd rather they figure something out with food than with oil. Food is completely renewable and biodegradable. Oil, not so much. Oil and the byproducts thereof does much more damage to everyone than food does, especially in the long-run.

Unfortunately, (though I don't know how true it is) I read somewhere that the process used to make biodegradable plastic-type things from food sources produces just as much hazardous waste as with regular plastics. Granted, even if that were the case, the fact that the end product will not be around for thousands of years still makes it worthwhile.

[eumelosdrizzle]

the Big Carrot is selling stainless steel canteens - and they even have what looked like an 'adaptor' to make it into a baby bottle. You might want to check it out - they have lots of aluminum ones (seem to be lined with something) and a bunch of the stainless steel ones mentioned on that site your girl posted. :) Laura bought one for herself last night, I have one on order for me (big huge one, surprisingly light).

[kettunainen]

Most excellent! Thanks for the info!