Reducing single-use/disposable plastic
1 lurker |
72 watchers
Jun 2019
7:08pm, 11 Jun 2019
10,556 posts
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Garfield
I know how you feel K5 Gus...it's an outrage!  I've not seen the show but have read quite a bit in the news about the outsourcing of rubbish disposal and sending it off to Asia.
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Jun 2019
7:18pm, 11 Jun 2019
3,384 posts
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run free
IN 2008, I attended a Green Conference that was attended by London Councils who did a panel discussion. They said at the time they exported over 50% of "Recyclables" to places like China. Here is what BBC have reported: bbc.co.uk when China just put the refinement of the quality they wanted last year. Start of 2018 China wanted a higher quality of useful plastic = 99% that many developed nations could not achieve. China used to buy most (see above link) of our poor quality contaminated plastic, sieved through it for the good stuff to turn into clothing or something and dumped the contaminated stuff. However the developed nations (UK included) found other countries (mostly Asian) with poor waste management that would instead take our poor quality, contaminated plastic! Landfill vs Incineration --------------------------- The EU has been moving in the direction of investing in more WTE (Waste to Energy) incinerators to reduce landfill usage. This has both good and bad merits. The good - it does provide some energy to the grid (this varies according to the incinerator type - earlier WTE produced 4% to the grid, the rest of the energy was used to run the plant). The bad - there are emissions that must be cleaned to WHO specs & even then there are emissions, it is burning our resources. Landfill - this also has good and bad. The good - it can be thought of a storage area for future technologies to mine; it can also produce energy (methane gas). The bad can contaminate soil and water sources (plastic & other items like batteries can contain chemicals that leach into the water), requires large areas of land and takes years to settle. The best is to reduce the amount of waste we produce in the first place by having a zero waste mentality which will require Rethink what you purchase / consumer REFUSE to purchase stuff that cannot be reused or recycled (does mean some compromises); RETHINK - if you really need to purchase something new - lots of preloved / second hand REUSE what you have (e.g. many people have been throwing out their plastic containers to replace them with glass "mason" jars to be hip and trendy) + freecycle + return packaging to companies to reuse REFILL - there are zero waste shops popping up + farmers markets REPAIR - look for a repair cafe; check YouTube etc REPURPOSE - e.g. I've used door handles as coat hooks + lots of ideas on the web RECYCLE - metal, glass, paper / cardboard, PET bottles If you still have stuff - bin it but should find there is very little to bin and will be stuff like light bulbs, broken glass etc |
Jun 2019
7:35pm, 11 Jun 2019
4,809 posts
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Wine Legs
I'm watching the plastic programme now. It's making me feel sick.
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Jun 2019
9:39pm, 11 Jun 2019
17,183 posts
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Carpathius
I was very unsurprised by the fate of "recyclable" plastic in Asia. This apparently also happens in Africa with the West's electrical waste (I read an article but can't remember where). I was also unsurprised by the cost of reducing plastic packaging when shopping - think I blogged about it a while back. I do have a plastic-free pop up shop nearby-ish but on a very low income I can't always afford it over plastic packaged stuff from Aldi. Even doing it at the supermarket is much more expensive as the programme last night proved. |
Jun 2019
12:58pm, 12 Jun 2019
1,649 posts
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cackleberry
I have noticed the 're-fill' pouches for coffee or cleaning products are more expensive than buying another jar/bottle. so what is the point of that? Like Carp, I have to do most of my shopping with my wallet, not my conscience. |
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Jun 2019
1:27pm, 12 Jun 2019
3,385 posts
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run free
Haven't watched the program - but it sounds like it is highlighting packaging usage with foods. Food wastage is one of the major sources of waste in the UK. According to a food import company I once spoke to: Packaging came about to reduce food wastage during transport; some foods are kept fresher with vacuum packaging; convenience - customers can simply pick up a bag of apples / chopped onions; it also simplifies auditing goods. Food companies have a large amount of waste ensuring customers have the perfect fresh produce like an apple without blemishes, the perfect peach. Outliers are wasted. Overall does it reduce food waste? WRAP stats show food wastage has been reduced from 2007 - 2012 but is unable to indicate what factors influenced those changes. |
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Jun 2019
1:41pm, 12 Jun 2019
3,386 posts
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run free
FYI: wrap.org.uk
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Jun 2019
3:17pm, 12 Jun 2019
616 posts
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Dibble
Yes. I can't understand why a refill for coffee is more expensive than buying a new jar. On the other hand the glass jar can be recycled so is it therefore better for the environment than the plastic pouch refill? |
Jun 2019
9:01pm, 12 Jun 2019
39,741 posts
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alpenrose
I bought a cauliflower in Sainsbury's today, it wasn't in a plastic bag! It's a mini-start I guess.
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Jun 2019
12:09pm, 14 Jun 2019
1,560 posts
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RunningRonnie
I just got a glass bottle of oil (which is refillable at a cheaper price), a bar of solid shampoo and a plastic bottle of washing liquid (which again, they refill at a cheaper price) from our local greengrocer. The only issue is though, the oil is still more expensive (cold pressed, extra virgin rapeseed oil) than buying a new bottle from the shop. Shame I can't get it refilled with bog-standard veg oil. |
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