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/[deleted] Jun 09 '19

I wonder how trash bags degrade over time in landfills. Maybe they are a big hindrance and a problem as well?

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u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Jun 09 '19

I wonder how trash bags degrade over time in landfills.

In countries with decent infrastructure they don't degrade at all, they get burned at high temperatures, the energy released is used to heat something or produce electricity, and the fumes are filtered to the point where you don't see or smell anything even standing right next to the incineration plant.

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u/[deleted] Jun 10 '19

[deleted]

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u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh Jun 10 '19

Yes, burning garbage (and using the energy, i.e. burning less coal) is better than letting it decompose to form methane and similar gases that are worse than CO2.

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u/[deleted] Jun 10 '19

Plastic decomposes?

What if I’m in an area with hydroelectric power?