Plastic Bag Shaming

[makattak]

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-sorry-banning-plastic-bags-wont-save-our-planet/

Oh look. More evidence that this is just counterproductive virtue signalling.

[dogmush]

So the plastic bags I use to pick up my dogs poo on walks are PLA, which is plant based and compostable. They are a little more expensive than polyethylene, but not that much.

Not sure why grocery bags couldn't be made of those., and throw them out.

[cordex]

So the plastic bags I use to pick up my dogs poo on walks are PLA, which is plant based and compostable. They are a little more expensive than polyethylene, but not that much.

Not sure why grocery bags couldn't be made of those., and throw them out.

Do you sort them and send them to an industrial composter?

[fifth_column]

I'm certainly not against plastic bags.  Or paper, or reusable.  I'm against the over-regulation involved.  In this or any other similar topic. 

That said, I'm 100% against littering.  And plastic bags that are tossed on the ground, or escape out of garbage cans, dumpsters, garbage trucks, etc. are ugly and long-lasting.  Along with other large pieces of plastic from various construction, shipping, farming, and other industries.  I'd like to see a vegetable-based plastics industry start flourishing.  Apparently it's known as "bioplastic."  Like the product dogmush mentioned. 

I don't think the technical challenges are difficult to overcome.  And as I understand it, recycling is more efficient than petroleum-based plastics.  Those items that are not biodegradable are more easily and efficiently reused. 

[brimic]

As I drive to work every morning, I take note that the roadsides tend to be very clean, right up until I get to the core area of metropolitan area, where areas and neighborhoods look like an open landfill (no exaggeration).
Plastic pollution is a people problem, not a materials problem.

See also:San Francisco poop map

[Ron]

I use all of the above.

Biodegradable “plastic” bags do seem like a good idea.

After a storm I had a plastic grocery bag stuck way up high in the Magnolia tree in my front yard.

It really po’d me for months.

Another storm knocked it lower eventually and I was able to snag it down.

[MechAg94]

My house is on the outside of the street corner.  The predominant wind direction is down the street straight into the yard of my house and my neighbors.  I am always picking up bits of plastic as I move.  Small candy and food wrappers are most common.  Plastic bags are rare and normally easy to see and pick up.  If I don't get them, my mower shreds them and I have lots of little pieces of plastic to pick up that are hard to see.

[WLJ]

This stuff reminds me seeing a Tesla with a "Zero Emissions" bumper sticker. Just where the heck do they think the electricity to charge that thing is coming from, Harry Potter wands?
This is on top of the resources used to produced the battery(s) and then depose of it.

[fifth_column]

Plastic pollution is a people problem, not a materials problem.

I couldn't agree more.  It seems more prevalent in poorer communities, but it's not exclusive to any group.  Respect for the environment has been lost, just like respect for everything else.  Littering is another aspect of entitlement and the lack of personal responsibility.  People seem to think they shouldn't have to clean up after themselves, that's what government is for.  

[Ben]

Plastic pollution is a people problem, not a materials problem.

Much truth there, and often has to do with demographics that we're not allowed to shame. Back in CA, I spent a good bit of time picking up trash along the outskirts of the land. Some of it was pickup loads from people who didn't want to pay the dump (and that could be white rednecks as much as anyone), but a lot of it was farm workers.

My cousin has orange orchards. It never failed that every picking season, the workers, who all parked along our shared road, would, during breaks, eat their packaged food and then just drop the wrappers, cans, etc. where they stood. I guess just a cultural thing that since they're out in public, or away from the city or whatever, that everyplace is a trash can.

[fifth_column]

I use all of the above.

Biodegradable “plastic” bags do seem like a good idea.

After a storm I had a plastic grocery bag stuck way up high in the Magnolia tree in my front yard.

It really po’d me for months.

Another storm knocked it lower eventually and I was able to snag it down.

If it's a regular occurrence you might be interested in bag snaggers:  http://bagsnaggers.com/

ETA:  The same thing happened in one of my trees with a birthday balloon that got away one year.  It was up there for a full winter before it came within reach.

[makattak]

Much truth there, and often has to do with demographics that we're not allowed to shame. Back in CA, I spent a good bit of time picking up trash along the outskirts of the land. Some of it was pickup loads from people who didn't want to pay the dump (and that could be white rednecks as much as anyone), but a lot of it was farm workers.

My cousin has orange orchards. It never failed that every picking season, the workers, who all parked along our shared road, would, during breaks, eat their packaged food and then just drop the wrappers, cans, etc. where they stood. I guess just a cultural thing that since they're out in public, or away from the city or whatever, that everyplace is a trash can.

Respect for property, respect for the beauty of the outdoors, cleanliness, and personal responsibility are all cultural mores that must be learned.

But it's oppressive to suggest foreigners who come here should learn to respect and join our culture. So expect more of this.

[Firethorn]

So the plastic bags I use to pick up my dogs poo on walks are PLA, which is plant based and compostable. They are a little more expensive than polyethylene, but not that much.

Not sure why grocery bags couldn't be made of those., and throw them out.

PLA should work fine.  It is incredibly recyclable.  It's biodegradable, but still takes a while, especially if it is a bit thicker. 

Short of certain chemicals that will melt most plastics, I'd love to see slightly larger, slightly thicker, PLA grocery bags that can honestly be used in small trash cans(and why is it so hard to find trash cans sized for such bags?) for places like bath and bedrooms.

I loved how they saved 40 kton of plastic by banning bags, but then had to deduct 12 kton of extra garbage bag sales.

It's sort of like how, back in the day, newspaper was always at hand for when I needed drop protection to protect the dining room table or other space from my latest project, but these days I have to get more creative.

[MechAg94]

I couldn't agree more.  It seems more prevalent in poorer communities, but it's not exclusive to any group.  Respect for the environment has been lost, just like respect for everything else.  Littering is another aspect of entitlement and the lack of personal responsibility.  People seem to think they shouldn't have to clean up after themselves, that's what government is for.  

IMO, there is nothing new here.  There was plenty of littering back when I was a kid, we just didn't have plastic grocery bags.  makattak is correct that it is something that must be learned, or made painful via fines.


There is a long standing "Don't Mess with Texas" anti-littering campaign that started in the 80's.  

[Perd Hapley]

If it's a regular occurrence you might be interested in bag snaggers:  http://bagsnaggers.com/

ETA:  The same thing happened in one of my trees with a birthday balloon that got away one year.  It was up there for a full winter before it came within reach.

You could use a pole saw to do most of what that would do, and then you would also have a pole saw. Also, if the bag was so tangled that you couldn't get it down, you might be able to just cut off the branch.

[MechAg94]

You could use a pole saw to do most of what that would do, and then you would also have a pole saw. Also, if the bag was so tangled that you couldn't get it down, you might be able to just cut off the branch.

Or just pull out the toilet paper when no one is looking so you can complain about those "damn kids".  Maybe no one will notice the bag.

[Ben]

You could use a pole saw to do most of what that would do, and then you would also have a pole saw. Also, if the bag was so tangled that you couldn't get it down, you might be able to just cut off the branch.

Yeah, pole saws rock. I have the Harbor Freight cordless one, and it has been extremely handy.

[charby]

My house is on the outside of the street corner.  The predominant wind direction is down the street straight into the yard of my house and my neighbors.  I am always picking up bits of plastic as I move.  Small candy and food wrappers are most common.  Plastic bags are rare and normally easy to see and pick up.  If I don't get them, my mower shreds them and I have lots of little pieces of plastic to pick up that are hard to see.

I live a block away south  from a gas station, McDonalds, KFC and small shopping center. I'm always picking up windblown trash in my yard or pulling it out of my pond.

[MechAg94]

Thankfully I don't have pond or a very big front yard.

One thing I thought about while mowing today is a lot of the plastic I pull out of my yard is shredded.  That means one of my neighbors upwind (or possibly me) already ran the mower over it.

[charby]

Thankfully I don't have pond or a very big front yard.

One thing I thought about while mowing today is a lot of the plastic I pull out of my yard is shredded.  That means one of my neighbors upwind (or possibly me) already ran the mower over it.

My neighbors are awesome about keeping their yards clean, anything shredded we find is more than likely from the commercial mowers at the retail places.

[Perd Hapley]

Yeah, pole saws rock. I have the Harbor Freight cordless one, and it has been extremely handy.

Oh, well mine is cordless, too. No batteries or gas, either. 

[K Frame]

Oh, well mine is cordless, too. No batteries or gas, either. 

Jackass powered?

 

[Scout26]

Back to the OP, I wonder how many customers look at the bags they are getting and deciding to shop elsewhere ??

[230RN]

Curious.  Why did this get to be a sticky?  What did I miss?

Fairly good technical information?  Fairly good counter-greenie rhetoric?  Accident?  Whim?



Terry