Is anyone else getting sick at the sight of plastic?

[Anonymous]

We avoid plastic as well. It's hard to watch some cooking shows-plastic-plastic-plastic.

We use a lot of glass jars and silicone/stasher bags. Where we can't get away from plastic-ish functionality we use EcoEnclose (tape & shipping) and BeyondGreen bags.

We got into Beyond Green when looking for actual compostable dog bags not not biodegradable (= breaks down into lots of little plastic pieces vs actually composting)

[Anonymous]

I am drinking NOTHING from a plastic bottle. Only water and tea from loose tea leaves. Once in a while, once a month, I will have a canned soda as a treat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Costco but they are the worst about unnecessary plastic. I buy a little tube of face cream and it comes in an enormous plastic flat pack. Is that to cut down on shoplifting? I’ve started paying more to buy that stuff elsewhere so I don’t get the huge plastic pack around it.
I don’t mind the plastic bags that come with clothes because they can be repurposed for other things, but maybe they could be made out of something more biodegradable

I have not purchased a ziplock bag in a decade. I decided I would not buy poop bags for my dogs either. I reuse every plastic bag that comes into my house. I always cut them open carefully and save them to reuse for storing things (easier to find stuff if it's in a clear plastic bag) and poop bags (the ones without holes). I save bread bags and the plastic bags frozen vegetables come in to use for poop bags. I save all those zipper top bags lots of things like oatmeal and nuts come in. I have a basket in my kitchen where I keep them. I wash them out the way I'd wash out a plastic or glass food storage container. It's a small thing, but at least I'm not increasing the demand for plastic by buying plastic bags.

However, I have to buy plastic trash bags. My trash collectors will not pick up trash that's not in plastic bags. So there's nothing I can do about that.

Good points. The poop thing is interesting. I might adopt the policy of no recycled bag, no walk! Yes, and all the people who think they are dog lovers can attack me but it is ridiculous. If every time an American dog does a poop, we use plastic, the sea life pays? Nope, my dog can relieve herself in the back yard thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:YES. A thousand times yes. But you can deny yourself most holiday plastic and still, by buying food for your own survival, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions (ex: beef is by far the most polluting food item to produce).

So it's too easy for me to fall into guilt and what ifs. That's what I'm mostly working on - how not to feel the burden of flying to Europe and Asia to visit my parents or my aunts. How to celebrate milestones and live my daily life with ease, but without polluting too much. What to buy to make the least impact on the planet.

Overall, it bears repeating that our greatest power lies in VOTING for politicians that will push through climate change and pollution mitigation. Each of our individual efforts doesn't even register compared to what governments can do, so it's useless to guilt-trip others into leading more responsible lives. What matters is convincing them that our species will not survive that easily if we don't act now on a global scale - and that means new legislation and enforcement.

I've become a single-issue voter - I will vote for the person who is most able to mitigate climate change.

Agree but individual effort does not hurt, it could even propagate a grassroots effort.

It's a struggle to get rid of plastic. Some of it is really, really useful, like plastic wrap when making gluten-free pastry. I hate plastic wrap, but it's essential for that purpose.

Overall, there about 80 multinational companies who contribute the most to global warming worldwide. If those (mostly oil) companies changed their ways, we'd have real progress. But that's only going to happen if we stop falling for their propaganda about recycling doing any good. It's a drop in the ocean, compared with the damage these companies do to our environment every single day.

That said, I try to behave the way I think everyone should behave. We all should care for our planet because we both depend on it for our collective survival and we share it with everyone. We can't hog or waste resources because we can afford to. It's not fair. I choose to behave as best I can, ridding my home of plastic, recycling, composting, buying "green" cleaning products, driving a hybrid car, etc. Even if everyone on the planet did what I do, that would not be enough to combat climate change. Large global corporations must mend their ways, and it will only happen when we demand it. Vote for politicians who will do the right thing when it comes to forcing companies to change their ways and reverse climate change. It can happen, but it will take a lot of effort. Each of us must do something.

Bet you can find a way around that. There is no necessary plastic except maybe in healthcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Costco but they are the worst about unnecessary plastic. I buy a little tube of face cream and it comes in an enormous plastic flat pack. Is that to cut down on shoplifting? I’ve started paying more to buy that stuff elsewhere so I don’t get the huge plastic pack around it.
I don’t mind the plastic bags that come with clothes because they can be repurposed for other things, but maybe they could be made out of something more biodegradable

I have not purchased a ziplock bag in a decade. I decided I would not buy poop bags for my dogs either. I reuse every plastic bag that comes into my house. I always cut them open carefully and save them to reuse for storing things (easier to find stuff if it's in a clear plastic bag) and poop bags (the ones without holes). I save bread bags and the plastic bags frozen vegetables come in to use for poop bags. I save all those zipper top bags lots of things like oatmeal and nuts come in. I have a basket in my kitchen where I keep them. I wash them out the way I'd wash out a plastic or glass food storage container. It's a small thing, but at least I'm not increasing the demand for plastic by buying plastic bags.

However, I have to buy plastic trash bags. My trash collectors will not pick up trash that's not in plastic bags. So there's nothing I can do about that.

Good points. The poop thing is interesting. I might adopt the policy of no recycled bag, no walk! Yes, and all the people who think they are dog lovers can attack me but it is ridiculous. If every time an American dog does a poop, we use plastic, the sea life pays? Nope, my dog can relieve herself in the back yard thank you.

It would be much better to buy those biodegradable poop bags made from corn and then recycle the plastic bags at a collection point. The plastic bags, while reused, still do not decompose and will still make their way into the environment if sent to a landfill.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Costco but they are the worst about unnecessary plastic. I buy a little tube of face cream and it comes in an enormous plastic flat pack. Is that to cut down on shoplifting? I’ve started paying more to buy that stuff elsewhere so I don’t get the huge plastic pack around it.
I don’t mind the plastic bags that come with clothes because they can be repurposed for other things, but maybe they could be made out of something more biodegradable

I have not purchased a ziplock bag in a decade. I decided I would not buy poop bags for my dogs either. I reuse every plastic bag that comes into my house. I always cut them open carefully and save them to reuse for storing things (easier to find stuff if it's in a clear plastic bag) and poop bags (the ones without holes). I save bread bags and the plastic bags frozen vegetables come in to use for poop bags. I save all those zipper top bags lots of things like oatmeal and nuts come in. I have a basket in my kitchen where I keep them. I wash them out the way I'd wash out a plastic or glass food storage container. It's a small thing, but at least I'm not increasing the demand for plastic by buying plastic bags.

However, I have to buy plastic trash bags. My trash collectors will not pick up trash that's not in plastic bags. So there's nothing I can do about that.

Good points. The poop thing is interesting. I might adopt the policy of no recycled bag, no walk! Yes, and all the people who think they are dog lovers can attack me but it is ridiculous. If every time an American dog does a poop, we use plastic, the sea life pays? Nope, my dog can relieve herself in the back yard thank you.

It would be better to not have a dog at all than to refuse to exercise it. I can’t believe you are actually proud of your bizarre choices.

[Anonymous]

^. Yes. That's weird. I buy poo bags that biodegrade almost instantly and are not made of plastic. And what do you use to pick up the poop in your backyard? You have to pick that stuff up almost immediately because dog poo and groundwater is really bad bad for the environment, as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been sick of it for years. I'm sick of seeing ads for gas-powered cars.

Electric cars are just as polluting for the environment - you just don't hear about it as much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have been sick of it for years. I'm sick of seeing ads for gas-powered cars.

Electric cars are just as polluting for the environment - you just don't hear about it as much.

No, they are not. This is such a tired talking point it isn't even worth debunking anymore. It's like finding a link to prove that olive oil is just as bad for you as lard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^. Yes. That's weird. I buy poo bags that biodegrade almost instantly and are not made of plastic. And what do you use to pick up the poop in your backyard? You have to pick that stuff up almost immediately because dog poo and groundwater is really bad bad for the environment, as well.

I do not scoop backyard poop since no one walks there. If I have to do a cleanup, I use a shovel and dump it in my woods.
Dog walking is a new concept. Dogs evolved from wolves because they wanted our food scraps. They didn't ask for a leash and collar. Your arguement about runoff is ridiculous. There are more deer and foxes where I live and no one picks up after them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love Costco but they are the worst about unnecessary plastic. I buy a little tube of face cream and it comes in an enormous plastic flat pack. Is that to cut down on shoplifting? I’ve started paying more to buy that stuff elsewhere so I don’t get the huge plastic pack around it.
I don’t mind the plastic bags that come with clothes because they can be repurposed for other things, but maybe they could be made out of something more biodegradable

I have not purchased a ziplock bag in a decade. I decided I would not buy poop bags for my dogs either. I reuse every plastic bag that comes into my house. I always cut them open carefully and save them to reuse for storing things (easier to find stuff if it's in a clear plastic bag) and poop bags (the ones without holes). I save bread bags and the plastic bags frozen vegetables come in to use for poop bags. I save all those zipper top bags lots of things like oatmeal and nuts come in. I have a basket in my kitchen where I keep them. I wash them out the way I'd wash out a plastic or glass food storage container. It's a small thing, but at least I'm not increasing the demand for plastic by buying plastic bags.

However, I have to buy plastic trash bags. My trash collectors will not pick up trash that's not in plastic bags. So there's nothing I can do about that.

Good points. The poop thing is interesting. I might adopt the policy of no recycled bag, no walk! Yes, and all the people who think they are dog lovers can attack me but it is ridiculous. If every time an American dog does a poop, we use plastic, the sea life pays? Nope, my dog can relieve herself in the back yard thank you.

It would be better to not have a dog at all than to refuse to exercise it. I can’t believe you are actually proud of your bizarre choices.

My dog does not get exercise on walks. It's a sniff-o-rama, then a poop and pee, then home. We are the ones who are bizarre believing that we need all this nonsense. Sure I have owned compostable poop bags, but they are wasteful (get the pun). I will use the plastic bread bags; and those bags are not allowed in the recycle container either way, poop or no poop. In the 1970s, all you had to do is curb your dog IF you walked it. Dogs weren't abused back then,...as a matter of fact, they were happy since they ran away often to socialize (and have sex), then came back home to sleep on the porch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^. Yes. That's weird. I buy poo bags that biodegrade almost instantly and are not made of plastic. And what do you use to pick up the poop in your backyard? You have to pick that stuff up almost immediately because dog poo and groundwater is really bad bad for the environment, as well.

I do not scoop backyard poop since no one walks there. If I have to do a cleanup, I use a shovel and dump it in my woods.
Dog walking is a new concept. Dogs evolved from wolves because they wanted our food scraps. They didn't ask for a leash and collar. Your arguement about runoff is ridiculous. There are more deer and foxes where I live and no one picks up after them.

Clean up your backyard. Dog doo and poo from urban wildlife are huge contributors to storm water contamination. Can’t pick up after the wildlife so the best we can do is pick up after our dogs, which tend to have way more contaminants like E. coli than deer poo. Further, these dog Pattie’s can rob fish of oxygen and breed algae that clogs up water systems.Try not to be defensive. Learn something. Just google. Dog poop and water runoff and see have so many cities and towns around the country are trying to deal with this massive problem.

https://www.ecolandscaping.org/03/developing-healthy-landscapes/ecological-landscaping-101/the-scoop-on-dog-waste/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^. Yes. That's weird. I buy poo bags that biodegrade almost instantly and are not made of plastic. And what do you use to pick up the poop in your backyard? You have to pick that stuff up almost immediately because dog poo and groundwater is really bad bad for the environment, as well.

I do not scoop backyard poop since no one walks there. If I have to do a cleanup, I use a shovel and dump it in my woods.
Dog walking is a new concept. Dogs evolved from wolves because they wanted our food scraps. They didn't ask for a leash and collar. Your arguement about runoff is ridiculous. There are more deer and foxes where I live and no one picks up after them.

Clean up your backyard. Dog doo and poo from urban wildlife are huge contributors to storm water contamination. Can’t pick up after the wildlife so the best we can do is pick up after our dogs, which tend to have way more contaminants like E. coli than deer poo. Further, these dog Pattie’s can rob fish of oxygen and breed algae that clogs up water systems.Try not to be defensive. Learn something. Just google. Dog poop and water runoff and see have so many cities and towns around the country are trying to deal with this massive problem.

https://www.ecolandscaping.org/03/developing-healthy-landscapes/ecological-landscaping-101/the-scoop-on-dog-waste/

I'm not cleaning up with plastic.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^. Yes. That's weird. I buy poo bags that biodegrade almost instantly and are not made of plastic. And what do you use to pick up the poop in your backyard? You have to pick that stuff up almost immediately because dog poo and groundwater is really bad bad for the environment, as well.

I do not scoop backyard poop since no one walks there. If I have to do a cleanup, I use a shovel and dump it in my woods.
Dog walking is a new concept. Dogs evolved from wolves because they wanted our food scraps. They didn't ask for a leash and collar. Your arguement about runoff is ridiculous. There are more deer and foxes where I live and no one picks up after them.

Clean up your backyard. Dog doo and poo from urban wildlife are huge contributors to storm water contamination. Can’t pick up after the wildlife so the best we can do is pick up after our dogs, which tend to have way more contaminants like E. coli than deer poo. Further, these dog Pattie’s can rob fish of oxygen and breed algae that clogs up water systems.Try not to be defensive. Learn something. Just google. Dog poop and water runoff and see have so many cities and towns around the country are trying to deal with this massive problem.

https://www.ecolandscaping.org/03/developing-healthy-landscapes/ecological-landscaping-101/the-scoop-on-dog-waste/

I wonder if the pets are the biggest problem when compared to livestock. Anyway, smaller dogs should be favored. It is easy enough to put poop into a small hole in your yard if you're that concerned. The point is that we have had a relationship with dogs for thousands of years, but now, out of the blue, marketing and legislation has made us feel a need to bag up poop. Even if we use compostable bags (better than the biodegradable or plastic dog poop bags), it still amounts to more fossil fuel use. I think that we might need to reserve scooping with bags to urban areas. In the suburbs, we shouldn't be scooping with anything other than a shovel.

[Anonymous]

And that's fine. No one says you have to use plastic to clean up your dog poop. But you do need to clean it up out of your yard before it hits rainwater and run off. I have a little doggie do septic system I built in my backyard. It goes right from the yard into that