Plastic

Dual wrote:

HSH28 wrote:
That being the case, I far prefer the water in those bottles to the stuff coming out of my tap, so it's not actually pointless as far as I'm concerned and it shouldn't have to be a waste of resource either.

Such entitlement! As long as you get your evian every day don't worry about the planet.

I think there are worse things in the world than 100% recyclable plastic to be concerned about.

What is the issue here, is it plastic ending up in landfill or the sea, or something else? The bottles I personally use all end up going to recycling, so from that side of things there really shouldn't be an issue.

<]:^D wrote:

Hyperion wrote:Bought a bottle of water this morning. Will refill it for the journey home, then will reuse it many times more before returning it to the shop for 25¢

why cant you buy a metal/plastic bottle and use it forever?

Because I don't have sparkling water in my taps

rinks wrote:I've got a dedicated meat bag.

I thought it was only Super Mutants who had meat bags.

Hyperion wrote:

<]:^D wrote:

Hyperion wrote:Bought a bottle of water this morning. Will refill it for the journey home, then will reuse it many times more before returning it to the shop for 25¢

why cant you buy a metal/plastic bottle and use it forever?

Because I don't have sparkling water in my taps

Get busy with the fizzy

<]:^D wrote::roll:

Deal with it

While our government points the finger and says we need to better, the US is pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

DML wrote:While our government points the finger and says we need to better, the US is pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

My neighbor smears gooseberry fool on his walls, I'm going to do it too.

Just because someone else acts like an irresponsible tosser doesnt mean you have to. You can be better and set the example.

Errkal wrote:

DML wrote:While our government points the finger and says we need to better, the US is pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

My neighbor smears gooseberry fool on his walls, I'm going to do it too.

Just because someone else acts like an irresponsible tosser doesnt mean you have to. You can be better and set the example.

I just find it all a bit diversionary tbh, but my trust in thus government has never existed.

At home I try my best but it's not always convnient. I'll take canvas bags to do the big shop but buy a bag for life for top ups because they're perfect size for emptying the cat litter tray. I love the Wee deli place near me and often buy loose fruit and veg but it's not always open around my bizarre work hours. I've bought some good quality reuse able containers for my lunches which also saves money.

However working for the NHS, it's disappointing how much plastics we use and how reliant we are. Granted a lot of it is used single use for good reason and gets incinerated in clinical waste, but there's very little accessibility for recycling and even less prompting to do so. When you hear statistics about oil for plastic running out in 50 years or so it's concerning to think what will happen with the single use equipment we use so much of. Will it cost more because of scarcity/recycling costs which will obviously impact on overall running costs or will the manufacturers come up with an alternative where we go back 50 years to metal everything that's decontaminated. (Which I guess leaves a lot of patient concern for how well they've been cleaned as opposed to brand new out the packaging unquestionable new items.)

Outside of single use clinical equipment more could be done to separate plastic bottles from visitors and the dreaded cups getting binned because there's no recycle bins on the wards outside of the mass disposal rooms which usually just filled with cardboard boxes. Having worked for the private sector previously I know my last workplace didn't do recycling because uplift simply cost far too much.

hot tip: If you're in the London area you can Pay for your Food with Plastic at London’s First Rubbish Cafe.

At home I hardly use any plastic now other than the odd recyclable bag and packing tape. Work is a bit more difficult if I'm away from home and food and drinks come in plastic so I try to avoid any of those kind of products.

I was under the impression London already had plenty of rubbish cafes.

They also have quite a few good ones too.

Bunni wrote:However working for the NHS, it's disappointing how much plastics we use and how reliant we are. Granted a lot of it is used single use for good reason and gets incinerated in clinical waste, but there's very little accessibility for recycling and even less prompting to do so. When you hear statistics about oil for plastic running out in 50 years or so it's concerning to think what will happen with the single use equipment we use so much of. Will it cost more because of scarcity/recycling costs which will obviously impact on overall running costs or will the manufacturers come up with an alternative where we go back 50 years to metal everything that's decontaminated. (Which I guess leaves a lot of patient concern for how well they've been cleaned as opposed to brand new out the packaging unquestionable new items.)

Single use metal items are feasible but would definitely cost more to produce than plastic.

There's loads of plastic waste in pharmaceutical products too, those empty blister packs and bottles don't tend to be recyclable.

Difference with single use plastics vs cost of production of metals is with the advanced techniques of decontamination overall it'll cost less because metals could be reused. Though I'm not convinced it'll happen as it would only replace a small portion of disposables. I genuinely feel bad when I have to use three pairs of gloves for a procedure because I've forgotten something and have to leave the room or I think I'm finished but have to surprise refil.

rinks wrote:It's the carrying around of the bottles that gets me. People have been so inured to the idea that you have to be constantly hydrated, they get into a panic attack if they don't have their little plastic bottle of water with them at all times.

This bemuses me as well - you see people walking around desperately clutching their takeaway coffee or bottle of water, and I wonder how we got to this point where people feel the need to be drinking something all of the time.

I agree with the points made about not fretting too much - there's only so much we as consumers can do, and while it's annoying that some of the costs in all this will inevitably be passed onto us, the real change has to come at a much higher level and in places far out of our reach. In short, I do what I can, but ultimately the real change that's needed is out of my hands.

+2

Lotus wrote:

rinks wrote:It's the carrying around of the bottles that gets me. People have been so inured to the idea that you have to be constantly hydrated, they get into a panic attack if they don't have their little plastic bottle of water with them at all times.

This bemuses me as well - you see people walking around desperately clutching their takeaway coffee or bottle of water, and I wonder how we got to this point where people feel the need to be drinking something all of the time.

I agree with the points made about not fretting too much - there's only so much we as consumers can do, and while it's annoying that some of the costs in all this will inevitably be passed onto us, the real change has to come at a much higher level and in places far out of our reach. In short, I do what I can, but ultimately the real change that's needed is out of my hands.

Well for at least the last ten years or more it's been bred through the school system as they ask you to send a water bottle into school and health and medical advice that we are drinking enough water.

The panic and hysteria around hydration is quite absurd and has been debunked many times now - though the general public doesn't seem totally aware of this. The notion that you need to drink 8 glasses of fluid per day still seems to be a commonly held belief, despite it being a massive overestimation (for most people on most days at least)

Simple guide: are you thirsty? If yes, go drink some water. You are now hydrated. Remember you can also get hydration from food such as fruits

Alternative guide: is your piss dark yellow? Go drink. Doesn't need to be clear but some colouration is fine

HSH28 wrote:

<]:^D wrote:

HSH28 wrote:

<]:^D wrote:people who wander around with plastic water bottles

What's wrong with that?

disposable bottles of water are one of the biggest sources of one-use plastic. theyre completely pointless and a waste of resources.

Except that's not really true at all. Its completely possible to reuse all the plastic in a disposable water bottle and I make sure I always recycle them.

That being the case, I far prefer the water in those bottles to the stuff coming out of my tap, so it's not actually pointless as far as I'm concerned and it shouldn't have to be a waste of resource either.

The environmental impact isn't just in the waste, it's in the manufacturing and logistics. Water is heavy to transport, it seems a massive waste to have lorries full of the stuff driving about when the same stuff comes out your tap.

If you don't like the taste of your tap water, invest in a water filter. Keep a jug topped up, in the fridge if you prefer your water cool, and be happy that you're not only helping the planet, but you're saving a ton of money too.

If you're out and about and buy a bottled water then fair enough, there is definitely not enough easy access to tap water in many places.

its a pet peeve of mine - i just find the staggering waste of bottled water to be a moral disgrace.