Plastic bags - environmentally friendly solution??

ailuro2

Co-op's bags are biodegradable, so if they should end up in the countryside at least they will rot away (takes up to three years, but is better than nothing.
They do suggest you re-use them instead of binning them though.

Ken-Dodds-Hairy-Knodule

ailuro2 wrote:

Co-op's bags are biodegradable, so if they should end up in the countryside at least they will rot away (takes up to three years, but is better than nothing.

I'm quite sure the co-op bags are degradable rather than biodegradable.

Biodegradable bags are made from plant (usually corn), whilst these degradable bags are still petro-plastic.

abisnail75

Contains_Mild_Peril wrote:

If you were inclined to use a plastic "bag for life" you wouldn't use it as a bin liner after only 1 shopping trip though, would you? I'm sure ordinary carrier bags are used an average of less than 4 times, but I doubt if that's true of 10p bags. Last time I bought one, I used it probably about 20-30 times before it got worn out, then I returned it to the shop and swapped it for a new one. I tend to use my current one for car boot sales, for which I also save any particularly big and/or strong "free" carrier bags I acquire.

All I can say is that I'm well impressed by your dedication. I just forget about taking my bags with me and I also forget that you can get the bag for life replaced for free - I end up throwing it and buying a new one. Thanks for reminding me of the whole concept again - can't think how I forgot that one!

Disagree with the comment on waste to energy plants though. I believe they are a truely viable option but ONLY once waste minimisation practices have been used first. However, there will always be some residue and if we can get energy out of it, surely it's better than burying it where all it does is produce methane which is 10 times worse than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas? BTW, there are less dioxins produced by all the incinerators/waste to energy plants in the UK than in one garden bonfire. AND waste to energy plants have to conform to stricter emissions to air regulations than power stations burning coal - bonkers! (Waste Incineration Directive if anyone's interested...)

Now I'm being really controversial - plastic bags were only the start!!

Moggles_2

Originally posted by abisnail75
BTW, there are less dioxins produced by all the incinerators/waste to energy plants in the UK than in one garden bonfire. AND waste to energy plants have to conform to stricter emissions to air regulations than power stations burning coal

These plants emit CO2 at higher levels than gas power stations during normal operations. Toxic emissions are higher still during start-up and shut-down and during the malfunctions to which the processes are prone. There is a well-documented record of emissions far in excess of regulatory limits during recurrent operational failures.

The cocktail of harmful by-products associated with energy from waste systems includes dioxins, carbon monoxide, hydrogen chloride, mercury and sulphur dioxide, together with toxic pollutants in the ash residues and contaminated waste water. Many of these pollutants are carcinogenic and threaten public health even at very low levels. In particular, the disposal of large quantities of highly toxic fly ash has to be addressed.

rubix_76

ailuro2 wrote:

Co-op's bags are biodegradable, so if they should end up in the countryside at least they will rot away (takes up to three years, but is better than nothing.

I think tesco's bags are too becuase on several occasions in the last few years I have got something out of an old bag in say, the garage (cold) or in the house (warm) and they have just shredded in my hands.

chrisxr2

I work for one of the uks largest waste companies, we have sold all of our landfills and are bulilding a rtecycling plant in my area. Unfortunately it is not us or the government that dictates watw policy but the big companies withtheir big sticks thattell governement how they need things to be. The weee directive(maybe one to many ees) isa great example. But ultimately people businessses and the government do not waqnt there waste prices to increase and would rather landfill it to save monry. )time now to mention the government imposed landfill stelathtax every april which does nothing but build upmgovernment cffers. the goernment dose not want to save the world, trust me i quote them on it on a three monthly basis, it is not in their budget.

make_life_easier

We can all do our bit though, maybe the government does'nt want to save the world but we won't have as much guilt on our shoulders if or when it all comes to a crissis