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> If we're advocating for using paper bags over plastic bags, that means we're advocating for way more CO2 in the atmosphere. Not exactly. The point is not to
by rakshazi 5y ago
> If we're advocating for using paper bags over plastic bags, that means we're advocating for way more CO2 in the atmosphere.
Not exactly. The point is not to use paper bag, but to use durable/persistent bag from any material (even plastic) as long as you can.
For example, I almost never use one-time plastic bags, because I have backpack, so when I go to a grocery store, all the things placed into the backpack.
In such case (from energy perspective) it's easier to peoduce 1 backpack (32l) for several years of daily use instead of paper/plastic/etc ONE-TIME bag.
Unfortunately, that approach doesn't work with other things. For example, it's impossible to buy yogurt not in one-time plastic package and we didn't find a "mass market" solution to that problem. Same goes for any other ONE-TIME package
- phreeza 5y ago> For example, it's impossible to buy yogurt not in one-time plastic package and we didn't find a "mass market" solution to that problem. Same goes for any other ONE-TIME package Actually there are completely package-free supermarkets in Europe (and probably the US, too) now, where you bring your own container and pay by weight. It's very niche now but I can imagine it increasing in popularity.
- dmitryminkovsky 5y agoCan you please name them? This is my dream. I would like to learn more.
- penteract 5y agohttps://scoopwholefoods.com https://scoopwholefoods.com has stores in Australia, Singapore, and the UK, although I'm not sure if it has yogurt.
- wombatmobile 5y agoEvery household in Australia has a yellow recycling bin that is collected every fortnight. Given that this article tells us there is no way to recycle plastic, what actually happens to all the trillions of plastic containers that pass through these yellow bins?
- dwighttk 5y agoRelevant Dilbert https://dilbert.com/strip/1997-08-16 https://dilbert.com/strip/1997-08-16
- TheSpiceIsLife 5y agoThis was in the news back in 2018, and at the time I think local councils were instead sending plastics to landfill. https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/malaysia-bans-waste-imports-as-australia-battles-recycling-crisis-20181019-p50atm.html https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/malaysia-bans-waste-import... I’m not sure how the situation has changed since. More here: http://environment.gov.au/protection/waste/how-we-manage-waste/national-waste-policy http://environment.gov.au/protection/waste/how-we-manage-was...
- QuibbleQuota 5y agoColes and Woolworths in Australia both accept soft plastic recycling. Their store brands all list what soft plastic items are recyclable
- moltar 5y agoA keyword search would be “zero waste store $city”
- nanomonkey 5y agohttps://reuprefills.org/ https://reuprefills.org/ in Oakland. https://www.azurestandard.com/ https://www.azurestandard.com/ has drop off points across the country. They are amazing. https://dispatchgoods.com/ https://dispatchgoods.com/ for Bay Area delivery food in reusable metal containers. Most health food grocery stores do something similar with their bulk foods and soaps.
- frosted-flakes 5y agoBulk Barn in Canada (no yogourt though).
- phreeza 5y agoIn Germany they are called Unverpackt (unpackaged).
- d13 5y agoIn India you can buy yogurt in biodegradable clay pots.
- Forbo 5y agoSciShow did a great episode on this very issue: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvzvM9tf5s0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvzvM9tf5s0
- dmitryminkovsky 5y agoThanks a lot, will check this out.
- gcanyon 5y agoHeh, I just posted this in reply to two other comments. It's good (counterintuitive) info.
- dmitryminkovsky 5y agoGreat episode. Thanks for sharing.
- dmitryminkovsky 5y ago> The point is not to use paper bag, but to use durable/persistent bag from any material (even plastic) as long as you can. Of course. I was referring/responding to the parent comment.
- gcanyon 5y agoUsing your backpack for a year makes it maybe superior to single-use plastic if you don't use the single-use bag for trash later on: https://youtu.be/JvzvM9tf5s0 https://youtu.be/JvzvM9tf5s0
- samcheng 5y agoGood thing I don't have to buy a new backpack every year!
- distances 5y ago> it's impossible to buy yogurt not in one-time plastic package and we didn't find a "mass market" solution to that problem. In Nordics most yoghurt is sold in one-liter Tetra Pak style cartons, similar to milk. I've noticed it's next to impossible to find these in Central Europe though, for whatever reason.
- TheSpiceIsLife 5y agoIs there a recycling process for Tetra Pak products? I know they’re made from recyclable products, aluminium and paper, but they’re also an awkward combination of glossy paper glued to aluminium, which—last time I checked—were sent directly to landfill here.
- distances 5y agoTetra Paks aren't put to generic waste, they go in a semi-specific packaging materials bin that depends on country. I assume almost all of them are incinerated for energy.
- TheSpiceIsLife 5y agoNot here in Australia. Here’s the Tetra Pak website about recycling for Australia, where it goes on for a bit to vaguely avoid saying they go to landfill as the aluminium isn’t a sufficiently concentrated source, and nobody cares to reuse the low grad paper that could be reclaimed. https://www.tetrapak.com/en-anz/sustainability/planet/carton-recycling-australia-new-zealand https://www.tetrapak.com/en-anz/sustainability/planet/carton...
- distances 5y agoIn Nordics a large part of household waste is incinerated for energy, I don't have recent numbers but 50% already in 2015 in Finland and Sweden. In addition some part is of course recycled/composted (glass, paper, metal, bio). Landfills get just a tiny slice.
- 5y ago