The War against plastic waste

falcieri

C_J wrote: »

I was only thinking the other day how great it would be if they brought back those stores which we had (maybe in the 80s?) where you could fill your own containers from big tubs of things like flour, muesli etc. I am certain they had a shop like this on Coronation Street for a while but I can't find anything about it, and now all my friends think I have imagined it.

Anyhow - this turned up on today's local news. One of the Waitrose stores in Oxford is trialling "fill your own containers" for pasta, wine, beer and detergent :

https://metro.co.uk/2019/06/04/waitrose-takes-battle-plastic-next-level-bring-boxes-9795533/

Fill your own is becoming a bit of a thing in Wales. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-46574402 I'd like to see Morrisons giving it a go, especially for things like pasta and rice.

falcieri

Icey77 wrote: »

Ohh does it Dreaming?
I'm not sure I like the 'feel' of the waxed food wrapper but I would give them a serious go if they keep the cheddar and parmesan nicely.

I am trying to find a way of freezing bulk bought chicken breasts individually at the moment that maximises freezer space - the raw breasts squish together well and don't get freezer burn when wrapped in sandwich bags.

At least you can wash and reuse your sandwich bags. I have lots of things that aren't recycleable like tupperware but I get years and years of use from them so I think that's probably better than buying yet another once use item.

falcieri

tboo wrote: »

I did find the responses to the vast list from halogen rather sad- the idea is to change to avoid unnecessary waste and not poopoo the suggestions

I find some people who don't change are those on a limited budget, those that can't be bothered and the elderly.


On a side note



Mcdonalds have introduced paper straws and some people are trying to sell the old free plastic ones as rare items for £1000's (even though some sold for £10.50) so expect to see some in a museum in the near future:)

I agree. There were a lot of excuses here. I would add, why buy straws? Take pack lunches. Don't buy coffee on the go. Get a bigger bag if you can't stand holiding your reusable water bottle. Etc etc etc.

Fire_Fox

DigForVictory wrote: »

I don't think anyone said the war on plastic waste would be easy. Or cheap. Or practicable in all cases for everybody. (Plus the edited lists are a bit Yank in tone, which I agree doesn't read well.)

Just if we all try a bit, it helps.

You might even ask work why the policy on not being allowed to keep reusable foodware (seriously - not as much as a mug?)
And ask Lidl when they'll compete with Waitrose on refillables.

Life without plastic waste is not cheap, but carrying on as we are will end up costing this species a planet.

I feel quite strongly that we need government (international/ national/ local whatever) and stores/ companies to push forward on the plastic waste that the vast majority of us really don't need, that is clearly wasteful. Carrier bag charging has been effective. There has been no popular uprising.

The whole take-away drinks with plastic straws and disposable cups epidemic is shocking. Tap water is free and very widely available. All we need is a container (equivalent to a carrier bag surely?). Obviously straws should be available 'behind the counter' for the minority of people who actually need them.

I am in need of alternatives for storing food so it lasts well (frozen or fresh), not least because I am 'Cooking for One'. Intend to watch the Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall TV thing, the adverts suggest singles/ couples are represented not just larger households. :cool:

Struggling to see how refillables is going to end up mainstream/ majority. But maybe that is my lack of creative thinking!

It would be a PITA for those of us who use public transport for grocery shopping. In my city using (expensive) daily bus tickets to hit several shops or to run several errands is commonplace. Plenty of bus users are juggling kids, without 'refillable empties' adding to that. Can't imagine too many rail or tube commuters playing sardines with 'refillable empties' either.

jackieblack

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Struggling to see how refillables is going to end up mainstream/ majority. But maybe that is my lack of creative thinking!

It would be a PITA for those of us who use public transport for grocery shopping. In my city using (expensive) daily bus tickets to hit several shops or to run several errands is commonplace. Plenty of bus users are juggling kids, without 'refillable empties' adding to that. Can't imagine too many rail or tube commuters playing sardines with 'refillable empties' either.

I don't see how carrying 'refillable empties' is any more of a problem than carrying packs of whatever the product to be purchased is :huh:

In the 1980s/90s we had shops in all the local towns called 'Weigh and Save', they sold all sold all kinds of dry goods in big containers with scoops in and you could scoop out as much or as little as you needed into paper bags and were charged by weight. It was brilliant and I've missed them ever since - it seems like the time might be right for some enterprising soul to bring them back!

Soworried

I use collapsible silicon container for our lunches.

They fold flat once you have eaten.

Fire_Fox

jackieblack wrote: »

I don't see how carrying 'refillable empties' is any more of a problem than carrying packs of whatever the product to be purchased is :huh:

In my city using (expensive) daily bus tickets to hit several shops or to run several errands is commonplace. Obviously you try to do the 'nippy' tasks first.

Because on the outgoing trip and throughout errands you are carrying bulky 'empties', and on the return trip you have your heavy/ bulky groceries as normal.

It would be awkward carting bottles and jars about the entire time, even if empty. People relying on public transport don't necessarily have the time, energy or inclination to do two completely separate trips in place of a round trip.

IYSWIM.

Agree with you more shops should have paper bags (large or small). Primark have long made it work, so other retailers should be able to. Tesco Pharmacy try to give me a tiny plastic bag every time I buy a single behind the counter medicine! Yes I refuse it every time (once a month say).

KxMx

Paper bags are not a green alternative.

They take more resources to produce than plastic and give off harmful gases during production and decomposition. Re-use is more limited compared to plastic.

They don't pollute/harm marine/wild life as plastic does though.

Personally I don't feel the positive outweighs the negative.

DigForVictory

I got a kilo of summer frocks that were too ragged to sell from a local cs (after some polite discussion) & made fabric carriers reusing dress fabric.

They can cope with a bit of rain, unlike some paper bags & carry a reasonable load (even sharp cornered tertrapaks <blush>) so although made of the not-wholly-satisfactory cotton, there were not going to stay in circulation as garments but were headed for shredding & pulping etc.
I've just delayed that last step.

My work expects me to carry a laptopcase. With all sorts of bonus junk shoved in. A reusable cup makes no obvious difference to the space or weight but a shrewdly placed coffee makes it all much more worthwhile!

archcherub

KxMx wrote: »

Paper bags are not a green alternative.
They take more resources to produce than plastic and give off harmful gases during production and decomposition. Re-use is more limited compared to plastic.
They don't pollute/harm marine/wild life as plastic does though.
Personally I don't feel the positive outweighs the negative.

thank you! i have been in dilemma on either plastic or paper.
i guess the best way is still to reduce as much as possible. its been difficult for me to remember bringing a reuseable bag to the stores.
got to try harder!