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How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:57 am
by VinceBordenIII
How much plastic did you throw away yesterday? Did you get takeout for lunch? Plastic bags? Plastic containers and forks? Bottled water? And people are worried about straws.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:23 pm
by JackRabbit_Slim
I avoid it at all costs.. It wasn't too many years ago that I woke up and realized that every bag of garbage that I set out at the curb doesn't just vanish but it goes in the ground.. Feels a little like there's not much we can do on our own but every little bit counts I guess.

I use reusable grocery bags. Never buy bottled water. Never buy take out, I usually pre-cook all my meals for a the next 4 or 5 days at once. Makes it simple to eat healthy. It's frustrating still that it's almost impossible to buy the staples at the grocery store without buying plastic. There is no recycling pickup in my area so I let it pile up a bit and then drop it at a friend's house in the next town once or twice a month. Does it make me feel good about myself? Not really. Seems the only way to remove yourself from the cycle is to stop consuming and become totally self sufficient. Wind the clock back a hundred years and there was no plastic... now it fills our oceans. We're a fucked up dumbass species..

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:33 pm
by CHEEZY17
My business uses a ton of plastic and cardboard. I am very conscious of it so I bring in my own recycle tubs that I fill up and take home every week since the business refuse pickup doesnt include recycling. I'm sure my recycle guys hate me since my amount of pickup for them is about 3 times everybody else in the neighborhood. :lol:

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:34 pm
by CHEEZY17
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:23 pm I avoid it at all costs.. It wasn't too many years ago that I woke up and realized that every bag of garbage that I set out at the curb doesn't just vanish but it goes in the ground.. Feels a little like there's not much we can do on our own but every little bit counts I guess.

I use reusable grocery bags. Never buy bottled water. Never buy take out, I usually pre-cook all my meals for a the next 4 or 5 days at once. Makes it simple to eat healthy. It's frustrating still that it's almost impossible to buy the staples at the grocery store without buying plastic. There is no recycling pickup in my area so I let it pile up a bit and then drop it at a friend's house in the next town once or twice a month. Does it make me feel good about myself? Not really. Seems the only way to remove yourself from the cycle is to stop consuming and become totally self sufficient. Wind the clock back a hundred years and there was no plastic... now it fills our oceans. We're a fucked up dumbass species..
Plastic does provide lots of benefits to our species and society as well. Its not exactly the worst invention ever.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:58 pm
by Zerobeat
CHEEZY17 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:33 pm My business uses a ton of plastic and cardboard. I am very conscious of it so I bring in my own recycle tubs that I fill up and take home every week since the business refuse pickup doesnt include recycling. I'm sure my recycle guys hate me since my amount of pickup for them is about 3 times everybody else in the neighborhood. :lol:
No community drop-off points nearby? In the county I live in, we have several recycling drop-offs, in addition to bi-weekly curbside pickup. I've used those sites when I've had higher than normal amounts of cardboard, or very large boxes.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:31 pm
by CHEEZY17
Zerobeat wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:58 pm
CHEEZY17 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:33 pm My business uses a ton of plastic and cardboard. I am very conscious of it so I bring in my own recycle tubs that I fill up and take home every week since the business refuse pickup doesnt include recycling. I'm sure my recycle guys hate me since my amount of pickup for them is about 3 times everybody else in the neighborhood. :lol:
No community drop-off points nearby? In the county I live in, we have several recycling drop-offs, in addition to bi-weekly curbside pickup. I've used those sites when I've had higher than normal amounts of cardboard, or very large boxes.
There probably is but why make an extra stop when I can just bring it home and put it on the curb?

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:36 pm
by Blast
If you really want to know ISRI, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, has a good amount of information about plastics recycling. Unfortunately a good amount of plastics to recycle are normally shipped to China and being held up by certain policies they have put in place. I will look into it all a bit today during some down time because I get asked these questions frequently as it is.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:59 pm
by CHEEZY17
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:36 pm If you really want to know ISRI, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, has a good amount of information about plastics recycling. Unfortunately a good amount of plastics to recycle are normally shipped to China and being held up by certain policies they have put in place. I will look into it all a bit today during some down time because I get asked these questions frequently as it is.
Yes. From what I understand China was the largest importer of recyclable materials and they have cut WAY back. Unfortunately as a result I think now most of our refuse meant to be recycled now ends up in a landfill anyway.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:26 pm
by 8-TrackJones
CHEEZY17 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:59 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:36 pm If you really want to know ISRI, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, has a good amount of information about plastics recycling. Unfortunately a good amount of plastics to recycle are normally shipped to China and being held up by certain policies they have put in place. I will look into it all a bit today during some down time because I get asked these questions frequently as it is.
Yes. From what I understand China was the largest importer of recyclable materials and they have cut WAY back. Unfortunately as a result I think now most of our refuse meant to be recycled now ends up in a landfill anyway.
Whatever China doesn't recycle ends up in the ocean.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:26 pm
by beagleboy
My wife's aunt is very into environmental concerns and reducing her plastic waste. Oddly she has absolutely no problem driving 40k miles per year for recreational purposes. They'll drive 350 miles to go see a concert or basketball game and think nothing of it and then get in an argument at a restaurant because they still use plastic straws.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:49 pm
by VinceBordenIII
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:23 pm I usually pre-cook all my meals for a the next 4 or 5 days at once. Makes it simple to eat healthy. It's frustrating still that it's almost impossible to buy the staples at the grocery store without buying plastic.
I like that idea. Cheaper, better food.
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 12:23 pm There is no recycling pickup in my area so I let it pile up a bit and then drop it at a friend's house in the next town once or twice a month.
What, just drive by and throw it on his lawn? Another good idea. Fuck that guy.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 3:54 pm
by JackRabbit_Slim
Biker wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 2:56 pm My crime is buying cases of bottled water. I honestly do feel a bit guilty about it but I do recycle them. I have reusable shopping bags and dont use plastic straws.
Apparently 80% of plastic water bottles aren't recycled.. can't imagine what that number is.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:11 pm
by VinceBordenIII
If there’s nothing wrong with your water supply, use that.
Not trying to personally criticize anyone, but carrying around a water bottle is fashion.
Imagine if half the world walked around wearing animal tail buttplugs. Would you?
I dunno. Maybe.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:14 pm
by JackRabbit_Slim
Im lucky in that sense. My farm sits on an aquifer and my spring is insanely pure. I carry it with me everywhere i go. Thousands of gallons overflow into the creek every day though. Wish i could share it with those who don't have access to real water.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
by Blast
CHEEZY17 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:59 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:36 pm If you really want to know ISRI, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, has a good amount of information about plastics recycling. Unfortunately a good amount of plastics to recycle are normally shipped to China and being held up by certain policies they have put in place. I will look into it all a bit today during some down time because I get asked these questions frequently as it is.
Yes. From what I understand China was the largest importer of recyclable materials and they have cut WAY back. Unfortunately as a result I think now most of our refuse meant to be recycled now ends up in a landfill anyway.
A good amount is also burned in power plants.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
by Blast
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:14 pm Im lucky in that sense. My farm sits on an aquifer and my spring is insanely pure. I carry it with me everywhere i go. Thousands of gallons overflow into the creek every day though. Wish i could share it with those who don't have access to real water.
Bottle it and sell it. Use glass bottles.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:37 pm
by JackRabbit_Slim
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:14 pm Im lucky in that sense. My farm sits on an aquifer and my spring is insanely pure. I carry it with me everywhere i go. Thousands of gallons overflow into the creek every day though. Wish i could share it with those who don't have access to real water.
Bottle it and sell it. Use glass bottles.
But who will buy it? There's 10 options in every convenience store..

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:41 pm
by Blast
Biker wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:40 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
CHEEZY17 wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:59 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 1:36 pm If you really want to know ISRI, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, has a good amount of information about plastics recycling. Unfortunately a good amount of plastics to recycle are normally shipped to China and being held up by certain policies they have put in place. I will look into it all a bit today during some down time because I get asked these questions frequently as it is.
Yes. From what I understand China was the largest importer of recyclable materials and they have cut WAY back. Unfortunately as a result I think now most of our refuse meant to be recycled now ends up in a landfill anyway.
A good amount is also burned in power plants.
Surely thats not true
Ok my mistake, with plastics it's just getting started, here's some of the research into it and projects
https://www.power-technology.com/commen ... c-to-feul/
They use a digester to break it down into a gas and then burned. I can't find anything about a full plant running only on this.
Others are using old tires for fuel, https://www.waste360.com/mag/waste_wast ... wer_plants
Those are just the quick searches.





Oh, and don't call me Shirley.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:44 pm
by Blast
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:37 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:14 pm Im lucky in that sense. My farm sits on an aquifer and my spring is insanely pure. I carry it with me everywhere i go. Thousands of gallons overflow into the creek every day though. Wish i could share it with those who don't have access to real water.
Bottle it and sell it. Use glass bottles.
But who will buy it? There's 10 options in every convenience store..
Slap a fancy label on it, call it pba free, organic, spring and raw then set up a booth at farmer's markets. Those dumb trendy chicks that have more money than brains will buy it up

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:46 pm
by CHEEZY17
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:44 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:37 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:14 pm Im lucky in that sense. My farm sits on an aquifer and my spring is insanely pure. I carry it with me everywhere i go. Thousands of gallons overflow into the creek every day though. Wish i could share it with those who don't have access to real water.
Bottle it and sell it. Use glass bottles.
But who will buy it? There's 10 options in every convenience store..
Slap a fancy label on it, call it pba free, organic, spring and raw then set up a booth at farmer's markets. Those dumb trendy chicks that have more money than brains will buy it up
But is it gluten free??!!?!?!?!

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:50 pm
by JackRabbit_Slim
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:44 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:37 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:14 pm Im lucky in that sense. My farm sits on an aquifer and my spring is insanely pure. I carry it with me everywhere i go. Thousands of gallons overflow into the creek every day though. Wish i could share it with those who don't have access to real water.
Bottle it and sell it. Use glass bottles.
But who will buy it? There's 10 options in every convenience store..
Slap a fancy label on it, call it pba free, organic, spring and raw then set up a booth at farmer's markets. Those dumb trendy chicks that have more money than brains will buy it up
this is a pretty solid idea.. glass bottles might be pricey though.. Wonder what I could realistically sell them for and if I could sell enough to make it worth my while.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:02 pm
by WestTexasCrude
I have become extremely concerned lately about the environmental damage being done to the planet by plastics. They say there's a floating plastic wasteland out in the N Pacific (due to currents) the size of Texas. I read that something like 85% of all plastic ever made has been made in the last 12 years. I don't believe arbitrary banning pell mell of different plastics will ever solve the problem.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:19 pm
by Blast
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:50 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:44 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:37 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:14 pm Im lucky in that sense. My farm sits on an aquifer and my spring is insanely pure. I carry it with me everywhere i go. Thousands of gallons overflow into the creek every day though. Wish i could share it with those who don't have access to real water.
Bottle it and sell it. Use glass bottles.
But who will buy it? There's 10 options in every convenience store..
Slap a fancy label on it, call it pba free, organic, spring and raw then set up a booth at farmer's markets. Those dumb trendy chicks that have more money than brains will buy it up
this is a pretty solid idea.. glass bottles might be pricey though.. Wonder what I could realistically sell them for and if I could sell enough to make it worth my while.
Home brew shops have bottles or you could go with Mason jars.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:33 pm
by JackRabbit_Slim
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 6:19 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:50 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 5:44 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:37 pm
Blast wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:31 pm
JackRabbit_Slim wrote: Fri Mar 01, 2019 4:14 pm Im lucky in that sense. My farm sits on an aquifer and my spring is insanely pure. I carry it with me everywhere i go. Thousands of gallons overflow into the creek every day though. Wish i could share it with those who don't have access to real water.
Bottle it and sell it. Use glass bottles.
But who will buy it? There's 10 options in every convenience store..
Slap a fancy label on it, call it pba free, organic, spring and raw then set up a booth at farmer's markets. Those dumb trendy chicks that have more money than brains will buy it up
this is a pretty solid idea.. glass bottles might be pricey though.. Wonder what I could realistically sell them for and if I could sell enough to make it worth my while.
Home brew shops have bottles or you could go with Mason jars.
I use mason jars myself to carry water around.. they're great.. only issue I've had is that the metal lids tend to rust a little and impart the flavor onto the glass. I know there are plastic lids available for mason jars but then we're adding plastic back into the mix.

Re: How Much Plastic Do You Use?

Posted: Sat Mar 02, 2019 1:42 am
by Wut
We don't use much, we use reusable drink bottles and take our own bags to the store or get paper bags to use as trash bags. We also reuse zip lock bags.