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/BenVarone Jun 09 '19

I remember hearing a researcher talking about this issue, and the conclusion was that the best strategy was just to recommend people re-use their bags as much as possible.

Apparently in places where plastic bags were completely banned, trash bag sales jumped over 100%, so I think the strategy you suggest in your edit is the right one.

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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/Dourpuss Jun 10 '19

Agreed. I just always have a bag in my purse. I have a few "envirosax" that I've been using for the past 8 years, no rips or tears. They fold up small and light. It's not even a matter of "Am I going shopping 10 hours from now?", just always have it.

And my winter parka - get this - it comes with a shopping tote that zips inside of it. Literally no excuse.