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Seattle to ban plastic straws, utensils at all eateries after July 1
- Thread starter fluffydelusions
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I had how much plastic is wasted in NJ
I went to buy a single bag of bananas. Theyre in a plastic bag already.
At the checkout I placed my reusable bag on the counter while I paid.
I looked up, and the cashier had placed my bananas, already in a plastic bag, inside not one but TWO other plastic bags.
I gave them back to her and placed my bananas in my reusable bag.
I went to buy a single bag of bananas. Theyre in a plastic bag already.
At the checkout I placed my reusable bag on the counter while I paid.
I looked up, and the cashier had placed my bananas, already in a plastic bag, inside not one but TWO other plastic bags.
I gave them back to her and placed my bananas in my reusable bag.
Grocery store clerks double bag everything now, I've noticed. It's really weird. They'll throw 2 light items in and double bag it if you don't stop them.
Some of my local restaurants have Paper/Cardboard like straws. Yeah they fall apart but they last long enough to get through the meal
The trade off is worth it IMHO
As for Forks/knifes etc...? Just do more dishes I guess? I know Panera Bread does it and no one complains
Seattle is probably one of the most logical places to pilot this change, since that area is very heavily influenced by marine activity.
Very good. If I recall correctly the European Union is moving to enforce a similar limitation/ban on one-use plastics.
If I remember right a lot of the compostable utensils you see around Seattle are Eco-Products, which apparently are made from PLA, which is derived from corn.
The compostable utensils I used in Seattle don't fall apart (even in soup). They're basically indistinguishable from regular plastic.
They introduced compostable spoons at the University of Washington around 2008 and they'd get soggy in hot stuff, but it seems like the technology got better (or UW just bought really crummy utensils first go around).
Some I've used feel like plastic still but degrade over time. They are fine for a meal, but if you leave them in the soup for a day (say in the fridge) or try to dishwash them they start falling apart.
I used starch-based utensils at a restaurant for the first time this weekend. They work perfectly fine, probably even better than plastic ones. 10/10 would go green again.
Thats pretty cool!
I think there is supposedly a compostable replacement for plastic bags being developed as well
That will be huge
We use Bio Bags for our food waste/compost. The amount of stuff we can compost here in Seattle is pretty awesome.
This needs to be Nationwide man
The plastic problem is out of hand
Off the top of my head I know of at least glasses and straws that are made out of algae.
You can even eat them.
Theyre pretty cool.
Sounds like corporate wanted to make plastic bags cheaper to save money, but the workers realize the crappy bags will break if they aren't double bagged.
Bags are literally trash now. I used to double bag back when I worked at Harveys, and the plastic bags then actually held what they were supposed to. If you aren't double bagging now, expect half your shit to fall onto the street on your way to your car.
Yup those videos of people removing straws, forks, and spoons from turtle noses where fucked up.
I don't know if there's even a solution to that. Housing costs have pretty much reached the point where i've already conceded that i'll never own a home in the Seattle area and my only choices are to continue to rent or settle for Renton/Issaquah and the surrounding areas. Rent prices are out control and I pay out the ass so my daily commute isn't too bad.
Regressive, and not-inclusive to those with disabilities. I am passionately against this move.
Related:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opi...isabilities-plastic-straws-are-essential-not/
https://www.resetera.com/threads/a-...-straws-from-all-restaurants-in-canada.48317/
Related:
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opi...isabilities-plastic-straws-are-essential-not/
https://www.resetera.com/threads/a-...-straws-from-all-restaurants-in-canada.48317/
So replace it with environmentally friendly biodegradable straws, like we already see here in Seattle at certain restaurants like Taco Time and others.
https://www.ecoproducts.com/taco-time.html
https://www.ecoproducts.com/compostable_straws.html
One word: heat. Compostable straws, even some cheaper plastic variants, have issues with heat insulation. We have't gotten quite there yet with these alternatives. Until we do, people with disabilities need to come first. The fact that those with disabilities aren't even mentioned in the links in the OP saddens me. People first, that's what I believe anyways.
If it's important to have a heat-resistant straw, then carry a permanent one around. There are plenty of non-disposable plastic and metal straws out there that will do the job without messing up the environment.
its usually the small eateries or the food trucks that offer plastic utensils so that sucks for them since they'll likely have to buy the more expensive compostable utensils.
but compostable utensils also come with their own set of issues. some of them basically melt when you use them for hot foods like soup which probably leeches into your foods as a result. also most of these utensils have to be commercially composted because of that and how slow they break down they are either thrown in the trash or even commercial composters dump them in landfills. So its like we spend all this effort and money on these compostable utensils and they end up in the landfill just like the cheap plastic forks.
but compostable utensils also come with their own set of issues. some of them basically melt when you use them for hot foods like soup which probably leeches into your foods as a result. also most of these utensils have to be commercially composted because of that and how slow they break down they are either thrown in the trash or even commercial composters dump them in landfills. So its like we spend all this effort and money on these compostable utensils and they end up in the landfill just like the cheap plastic forks.
Could you put into your words why you think this change is being made?
This way of thinking is how we got here in the first place. People first planet second.
Are there any examples of "opt-in" plastic straw laws enacted anywhere? I'm curious if that's feasible.
It seems like reducing waste while accommodating people with disabilities would be easier to achieve by modifying this law to include opt-in on non-compostable plastic straws but keeping the general ban—at least until compostable straw tech catches up to the needs of the disabled. Is that basically what you'd advocate for?
I'm pretty glad Chicago implemented a plastic bag tax. Not a total ban, but at least now cashiers need to actually ask if you want bags so they can make sure you're charged for them. We can definitely do more but at least this is good baby step.
In the Seattle law you can still buy non-compostable straws at the grocery store
I believe California just passed this, only article I could find on it is a bit old. A waitress commented on this being the new rule at their restaurant, however many seem to be giving straws out anyway so I have no clue if it is enforced.
http://sacramento.cbslocal.com/2018...raw-ban-gets-one-step-closer-to-becoming-law/
(ignore bad title on article)
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