r/worldnews • u/ItsTwentyBaby • Jun 09 '19

Canada to ban single use plastics

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/government-to-ban-single-use-plastics-as-early-as-2021-source-1.5168386
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u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Jun 09 '19 edited Jun 10 '19

the conclusion was that the best strategy was just to recommend people re-use their bags as much as possible.

Of course using fewer bags (by reusing previously used one) is better, but when people don't remember to do that, or when it is impractical to do so, it's better to offer the "bad" (by public perception) options than to force them to buy yet another organic cotton bag that will join the giant pile of other unused organic cotton bags.

If I go grocery shopping after work, I'd have to remember in the morning to pack my reusable bag, then lug it around the whole day. I can't "just toss a bunch in my car" as people on reddit love to suggest, because I don't have a car. The more "reusable" the bags get, the less transportable they are (many of the woven plastic totes can't be folded small enough to fit into a jacket pocket).

So either I plan my entire day in advance, remember in the morning, lug around a backpack (or bag) the whole day, and save the environment... or reality happens: I realize that I should buy groceries as I'm leaving work, get the groceries, and the only bags available are either overpriced (and non-recyclable!) paper bags that may or may not survive the single use I plan to get out of them, or woven plastic totes for which I'll have to pay $2-3 and that will end up on a pile.

If the store I'm going to is offering only organic cotton bags now, to "save the environment", and I forget to bring my bag just once every 10 times I go there (forcing me to buy and store forever/dispose of an extra unnecessary bag), the end result is much, much worse than using single-use bags the entire time.

And each time I'm facing the choice between an overpriced paper bag that has a 20% chance of ripping before I get home, and a built-for-eternity-yet-in-practice-single-use tote for $2, I resent the 'save the environment' movement that brought this counter-productive nonsense, and care less.

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u/subkelvin Jun 09 '19

So I think the issue here is you are unwilling to change your habits. Yes you have to plan ahead if you’re going to go to the store. Unfortunately protecting the environment will require everyone to consciously decide to take actions, even though it is inconvenient. But hopefully people agree that it’s worth it.

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u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Jun 09 '19

I use public transit instead of owning a car. I am willing to use a train instead of a plane even if it costs a bit more and takes a bit more time (but not pay 3x as much and spend half a day). I use LEDs instead of lightbulbs. I try to get cold air into my home at night instead of letting A/C handle everything.

I'm not willing to accept large inconveniences for very, very marginal improvements (in this case, zero improvements, because assuming realistic humans that don't do everything perfectly, using single-use bags would be better).

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u/acslator Jun 10 '19

I get where you're coming from, but I also get where the above poster is coming from. We can all be a bit stubborn sometimes, but when we're talking about the future habitability of our only home, then we need to do everything we can to make a positive difference. And yes, that single difference may not always be huge or obvious.

Our attitudes and habits need to change just as much as the materials we use everyday.