Countdown Removing Straws from shelf - more plastic targeting

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#2103869 9-Oct-2018 11:53

sbiddle:

Rikkitic:

I don't believe plastic is inherently evil and I find it unfortunate when that gets suggested by some activists. What I would like to see, and what I think would go a long way towards solving many problems associated with plastic, is a more judicious use of the material. As pointed out above, plastic has legitimate applications that are useful and valuable. It should be used for those and only those.

Can't agree more. The outrage from some people over plastic use has gone too far - as plastic has plenty of legitimate uses.

Clearly many of the people who complain have never visited a UK supermarket - literally 95% of produce is prepackaged.

You could apply similar to the outrage by anti-environmentalists at any attempt to clean up and fix our environment. It is very evident on these forums.

rb99

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#2103878 9-Oct-2018 12:17

T'other half can home yesterday with a set of 4 stainless steel straws complete with custom designed bottle/straw brush. The packaging probably still cost more.

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

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#2103880 9-Oct-2018 12:24

scuwp:

I then asked her what they did with the old ones to which she replied "Oh we put them in the soft plastic recycling bin with the other plastic bags...because they are made of plastic!"

The only reason they are removing those is for profit - now selling what used to be a given.

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#2103882 9-Oct-2018 12:25

rb99:

T'other half can home yesterday with a set of 4 stainless steel straws complete with custom designed bottle/straw brush. The packaging probably still cost more.

Which will be great until someone chip their tooth with those things...

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#2103884 9-Oct-2018 12:27

freitasm:

rb99:

T'other half can home yesterday with a set of 4 stainless steel straws complete with custom designed bottle/straw brush. The packaging probably still cost more.

Which will be great until someone chip their tooth with those things...

Its always nice to make a contribution to the dental industry...

“The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness.” -John Kenneth Galbraith

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scuwp

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#2103885 9-Oct-2018 12:33

freitasm:
rb99:

T'other half can home yesterday with a set of 4 stainless steel straws complete with custom designed bottle/straw brush. The packaging probably still cost more.

Which will be great until someone chip their tooth with those things...

Or worse, a child trips over with one in their mouth., or maybe a bit of heavy metal poisoning anyone? Not all stainless is made equal.

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

MikeB4

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#2103892 9-Oct-2018 12:51

Paper straws pose a lot less risk to health and the environment. Better still don't use a straw our kids never used them.

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#2103905 9-Oct-2018 13:22

sbiddle:

All of which ensure the quality of your produce. If you're unhappy leave the packaging at the store - but I want my product wrapped in plastic to ensure quality.

A telegraph cucumber not wrapped in plastic will break down incredibly quickly due to moisture loss. Likewise half cabbages and iceberg lettuce wrapped in plastic prevent against moisture loss.

Interesting though that we have survived for decades purchasing fresh produce without the need for plastic wrapping and if we are serious about getting rid of single-use plastic out of the environment, this area surely also needs attention. The most interesting example I've seen recently is individual corn cobs shrink wrapped in plastic. Why not just leave them in the nice protective green leaves and "silk" that they grow in?

Oblivian

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#2103916 9-Oct-2018 13:39

Got a small clearance bag of bananas the other day. Yes, bag. They were wrapped in a plastic sleeve with a barcode for normal purchase. Which was then put into and sealed, an additional plastic bag with CLEARANCE $1 sticker on it so as not to be confused with the other bananas.

Interesting Sunday? program on Sunday. An aussie environment advocate (hes done a ban the bag waste series before and looked at supermakets lame 'consumers demand it' without actually asking them excuse for sticking everything in plastic and throwing away too ripe but too big bananas worried consumers wont buy them...) went to Sweden and investigated how they dont recycle plastic. They burn it at 900c and somehow get 'within environmental guideline' chemical outfall out the stack. Ever lit a plastic bag and sucked it in?...

The catch. The plant cost $34bn to setup. And an annual running cost of $30-40m

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-14/how-would-burning-rubbish-like-sweden-work-in-australia/10115694

marej

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#2103989 9-Oct-2018 16:10

They are still selling drinks with plastic straws attached and are wrapped in plastic....you know for hygiene purposes. So they have banned the straws that have the least impact on their profit. They have no interest in whether straws are bad for the environment.

I see at they have these clear thick plastic bags for their bakery customers. They are thicker and more robust than the fruit and vege ones, so I just grabbed one of those and used it to pack the two items I bought.

Its a scam. They are having a laugh. They are happy to say the profit on their 15c bags are going to charity, but that needs to be weighed up against how much more they are making of sales of rubbish bags.

Sam91

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#2104044 9-Oct-2018 17:40

Saw this at Maccas today. It's a move in the right direction. However, if you decide to be environmentally conscious and not opt for a straw, you will still receive a drink with a plastic lid. You can't drink with this lid attached, so its only purpose without a straw is to strengthen the cup when not in use. I suppose the next step for Maccas is to ask at the time of sale whether you need a lid, so the drink can be prepared correctly and minimise waste.

Bluntj

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#2104055 9-Oct-2018 18:15

Out of curiosity I wonder how many turtles have died to plastic straws? It seems to me that the single picture of one poor creature has created this craze.

I am all for the diminishing use of plastic where it isnt needed and for common sense to apply rather than media hysteria and Government action to effect tokenism only, rather than cure the problem.

As far as I see companies like Placemakers and the supermarkets are using the hype to once again increase their profits.

As I understand it, most of the recycled plastic will be(or is already) going to landfill in this country and Australia. Surely best use of taxpayers dollars would be to effect a solution to this issue.

To simply ban single use plastic bags and straws contributes nothing to the solution. Most of us will simply purchase plastic bags to dispose of our refuse instead of using "single" use plastic.

Bluntj

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#2104057 9-Oct-2018 18:17

Sam91:

Saw this at Maccas today. It's a move in the right direction. However, if you decide to be environmentally conscious and not opt for a straw, you will still receive a drink with a plastic lid. You can't drink with this lid attached, so its only purpose without a straw is to strengthen the cup when not in use. I suppose the next step for Maccas is to ask at the time of sale whether you need a lid, so the drink can be prepared correctly and minimise waste.

That is fine for soda's, but what about thickshakes which are one of my favorites. Maybe Maccas supply us with a plastic spoon rather than a straw?

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#2104064 9-Oct-2018 18:25

Plastic has a many uses, but surely we should focus on trying to minimise single use disposable plastic.

Last weekend at the supermarket, I was behind a young guy in the queue: two lemons, in a plastic bag. Two carrots, in a plastic bag. Two capsicum - each one in a separate bag! A bunch of bananas, in a bag. Bananas, of all things, come individually packaged by nature, and are even then joined together for ease of carry - why would you need to place them in plastic as well?!

Err, just to keep this on topic, I'm sure he had some plastic straws as well.

marej

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#2104069 9-Oct-2018 18:36

dafman:

Plastic has a many uses, but surely we should focus on trying to minimise single use disposable plastic.

Last weekend at the supermarket, I was behind a young guy in the queue: two lemons, in a plastic bag. Two carrots, in a plastic bag. Two capsicum - each one in a separate bag! A bunch of bananas, in a bag. Bananas, of all things, come individually packaged by nature, and are even then joined together for ease of carry - why would you need to place them in plastic as well?!

Err, just to keep this on topic, I'm sure he had some plastic straws as well.

I do this, because I wont put my fruit and veg in the basket as they dont seem clean especially with fruits where the skin will be consumed. That this is single use plastics is correct though opposed to the carry bags which is the only plastic that is not single use.

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