• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Ditching plastic bags 'no real use

Rob Lister

Unregistered
R
Joined
Apr 1, 2004
Messages
8,504
I don't know how I feel about this. I've got nothing against plastic bags but lately, my pantry is full of them and simply cannot find enough uses. The kids refuse to use them as lunch pales. I only use about one a month for car trash. We never use them for gar-bage because they have little holes in the bottom.

I only take comfort in the knowledge that those that blow away will end up high in my neighbor's elm tree...and he will spend hours trying to fish it out with...

a fishing reel!

Still, it seems a harmless thing, plastic bags for shopping. Yet...somehow it's a debate. Just the fact that it is being debated is evidence that there must be something evil afoot.

Plastic is made from oil.

IT is believed to be one of the simplest ways people can help the environment, but scrapping the plastic shopping bag might not be worth the effort.
The Federal Government's economic advisory body has recommended ditching plans to wipe out more than five billion plastic bags a year, saying the costs may outweigh the benefits.

The plan is supposed to save marine wildlife and reduce litter, but the Productivity Commission argues that not only is the plastic bag not a serious threat to wildlife, but governments have not taken into account the food-safety benefits of plastic bags or their typical re-use as liners for the garbage bin.

Instead, the commission argues that tougher anti-litter laws or harsher fines might be a better way of addressing litter.
Click to expand...

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19228242-2,00.html

"Paper or plastic, sir?" The cutie cashier asks.
"Which do YOU prefer?" I ask back.
"Paper because it doesn't harm the environment," she replies.
"Paper it is, and can you double bag please?"
"Sure!"
 
I use them every day when cleaning out the cat box, I've seen dog walkers use them for much the same purpose.
 
WildCat said:
I use them every day when cleaning out the cat box, I've seen dog walkers use them for much the same purpose.
Click to expand...

Which is odd, when you think about it. You take something that is both biodegradable and a natural fertilizer and wrap it in something that preserves it for years. Sort of like disposable baby diapers. ;)

a thousand years from now, after the fall of this civilization (such as it is) archaeologists will discover buried pampers and proclaim, Eureka!

See, an up side to everything.
 
They say that only 1% end up 'in the wild', but it's 1% of 5 billion. The people tending the dead marine life would know that it's still a serious issue. They look just like jellyfish. Even if they are handy to use as bags for waste disposal, the question is if the benefit outweighs the cost. I don't mind putting up with the inconvenience if it's going to benefit the environment.
 
But it was something we could all do and feel good about...hording plastic bags...saying no to plastic bags...warm and fuzzy feelings about dolphin safety and the future of civilization.

My shed full of useless plastic bags makes me feel grand.....Once I get a new eco ego massaging activity I will probably take them to the landfill...

If the truth be known the main problem was very part-time fishermen who would take bait wrapped in plastic bags down to the shoreline and leave the bags behind to choke dolphins....(they really do, they look like a squid when they float around)...So every time I put another bag in the shed I think of flipper and every time I ram a discarded plastic bag up the arse of a littering very part-time fisherman I don't feel too bad either.
 
And the answer is???

"paper or plastic, sir?"

round and round we go.

We need a new law anyway.

It's been a total of 28.2 microseconds since the last law. Ban plastic and paper. Make everone bring their own bags to the store. Fool could make a mint selling the contents of his shed. New fashion trends in cloth food bags. This could catch on.
 
People who think paper bags don't harm the environment have never visited a pulp plant. They're a lot better than they used to be -- a lot less or even no chlorine, for example. But just the water used is sad to watch.

I don't know exactly where the balance lies -- better minds than mine have posed that question without coming up with an indisputably "right" answer -- but it's a lot closer than it seems on first examination.
 
Bunnings Warehouse (hardware store) charge 10c a bag...they say it has reduced plastic bag usage by 90%.

Everyone Charges 10c a bag....why not?
 
Rob Lister said:
I don't know how I feel about this. I've got nothing against plastic bags but lately, my pantry is full of them and simply cannot find enough uses.
Click to expand...

Just a thought, but if you wanted to be environmentally conscious you could take them back to the grocery store and re-use them to carry your groceries home. After all, nobody says you have to get new plastic bags each time.

It’s not a problem in our home. Since the wife started her estate sale business, we can’t keep enough of them around.
 
Hotlinking is 'reproducing by any other means', is it not?

Also, in hotlinking, you are doing nothing relevant or governed by copyright anyway. The act of linking is basically telling others where the work is already available to the public. The copyright owner doesn't have any exclusive right to tell others about his works.
By hotlinking, you are not spreading or reproducing them, you are just telling others where the originals are located (using a technical process, upon which the whole World Wide Web is based on).

The whole issue of 'stealing bandwith' is something else entirely...

ETA ___ just now I re-read the Rule 4 more closely, it appears to prohibit hotlinking without prior permission from the originating site here, not just in the context of 'copyright'. So, I'll comply with what the Rule says, FWIW.
 
Last edited:
Here's what I recommend. Use cloth bags. You may get cloth bags as promotional items or for other reasons, or you may wish to buy them at festivals, dollar stores or garage sales. You can find them in lots of places.

Cloth bags are a heck of a lot stronger than paper or plastic so that you don't have a bag with two items in it. Also you can carry lots of them at one time because of the handles (which don't tear like plastic ones). When you're done, take all the bags and stuff them in to one bag (the largest one) and toss them in your trunk.

Of course, you'll get some funny looks at the supermarket when they say "paper or plastic" and you say "neither", but usually they're a big hit with cute little cashiers who were raised on eco-cartoons.

The only small downside is that they do get dirty. You have to wash them every now and then. I consider that a minor inconvenience compared to dealing with plastic bags that reproduce like tribbles. And it will make you feel good that you aren't supporting the evil petrochemical or lumber industries.
 
There are paper-bag goblins stealing all the plastic bags in my area of L.A. Paper makes a far better bag for disposing of cat litter and it's easier to carry, in my opinion. All plastic bags do is provide a toy that I have to keep taking away from my cat.

Web... that... that would totally work. From what I understand, human shoulders are actually pretty stong and support weight well, but I can't remember where I heard that, so feel free to disregard.
 
The Fool said:
Bunnings Warehouse (hardware store) charge 10c a bag...they say it has reduced plastic bag usage by 90%.

Everyone Charges 10c a bag....why not?
Click to expand...

It's also be hailed as a success in Ireland: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2205419.stm

...snip...

A tax on plastic shopping bags in the Republic of Ireland has cut their use by more than 90% and raised millions of euros in revenue, the government says.

...snip...
Click to expand...

And although it is anecdotal - I remember when supermarkets in the UK used to charge for all carrier bags, and back then people did take old bags back to the supermarkets to re-use them rather then pay the pennies for new ones. (That was back when a penny was worth something - in those days you could buy a plane for tuppence!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom