Plastic reduction

[featured_spectre]

I've seen this before online. It is a good concept and clearly works as a crude refining process but does it work for hard plastics like those in toys?

[HarryMonkey]

 

 

About the only thing that really has any non-desirable products are sweets, biscuits and crisps in my house, but biscuits go straight into the airtight jar, sweet wrappers get thrown in the bin if not recyclable, same for crisp packets.

 

 

 

Charity Recycling MK in Milton Keynes, recycles crisp packets (amongst other things) to raise money for charity. I'm sure there must be other local organisations doing the same. One of our teachers collects all of the crisp packs here in school and sends them off.

 

https://www.facebook.com/recyclemk/

[featured_spectre]

Thanks Harry. They're up the road from me, so I will see what can be done!

[maark]

My contribution so far:

tins of cat food instead of pouches

shaving brush and soap instead of foam/gel

bamboo tootbrush (still has pvc bristles but saves a lot of plastic)

soap instead of show gel/shampoo

one thing i did not get on with is safety razor instead of disposable - just couldn't get close enough shave but will have another go.

Try and and buy glass jars instead of plastic for things like peanut butter.

I do a lot of cooking from scratch anyway but could make things like onion bhajias, veg burgers, veg pate instead of getting ready made in packets.

Not bought ready made pizza, soup etc. for years.

[featured_spectre]

@maark I found a straight razer gets much closer than any other shaver I've used. Also does a great job on a beard compared to any other razers.

 

If I grow out a beard fully, I can be clean shaven in a few strokes compared to disposable razers etc.

[IrritableTech]

I've just come back from working a festival and was surprised to find that reducing single use plastic is very much on their agenda.

 

Single use plastic bottles weren't allowed on site - punters, crew and artists were all asked to bring a reusable bottle. Some stage water was available for artists in PLA bottles (biodegradable plastic made from sugar cane). I expected a backlash from bands around this, however we didn't have one complaint.

The beer sponsor also supplied cans of beer stuck together with a blob of glue and one piece of sellotape rather than those plastic ring holders which we've all been cutting up for years so they don't end up snagged on animals legs. The slabs weren't plastic wrapped either.

[localzuk]

Same @IrritableTech, Sidmouth Folk Festival worked hard this year to be plastic free as much as possible. No throwaway drinks cups - it was £1 for a merch cup, so they were re-used. All the food outlets used card/paper instead of polystyrene things etc... Paper straws, wooden cutlery. Was a nice thing to see! A lot of folk festival people have pewter tankards anyway.

 

The bands weren't allowed water bottles either - so they came on stage with mugs. There were water taps at camp sites and performance tents, so you could refill your bottles as well.

 

Plus the bins were set up for as much recycling as possible.

[mavhc]

Looking in the plastic bag recycling box at Tesco, loads of people appear to have recycled the higher quality plastic bags they paid for, madness

[mikes]

Having a problem recycling polystyrine in work, it has the recyclable symbol on it but everyone I speak to says it can't be recycled. It's enough to fill 1.5 biffa bins. What's the point of this recycling symbol then? Only certain places can recycle it?

 

I have one type that has no recycling symbol on it, which I put in general waste as not recyclable. I have another type that looks and feels exactly like the previous type; only it has a recyclable symbol on it. I then have another, black type that feels different, that also has the recyclable symbol on it.

I guess our council just won't do take it? Finding someone there to speak to was an odysee worthy of Homer

[3s-gtech]

Polystyrene can be recycled, but it’s low density and bulky, and not that easy to recycle. The end product is also very low value. I guess it’s economics as to why it’s hard to find someone that takes it. In that case, it shouldn’t be used in the first place IMO - always makes me cross to find it nowadays. LDPE does a similar job and is easier to recycle.

[localzuk]

This page lists polystyrene recyclers - The BPF Expanded Polystyrene Group | Airpop

[mavhc]

Can you disolve it to take up less space?

[elsiegee40]

This one really pleases me. I have been trying avoid buying glitter and “jewelled” cards for some years because the cards can’t be recycled.

 

M&S bans glitter from Christmas cards (Guardian)

[mavhc]

Glitter should be banned from the planet in general.

 

PRM Green Tech say they'll take my vhs tapes, I assume to recycle

[hardtailstar]

September I'm challenging myself to be more responsible with plastics etc.

 

Any tips for day to day?

 

I already take my lunch in a box and used a metal spork to eat. I have a 1.5l bottle too.

[6Foot2]

September I'm challenging myself to be more responsible with plastics etc.

 

Any tips for day to day?...

If you buy cans with one of these plastic collars (or similar):

 

 

make sure you open/split all closed loops before throwing it away.

 

[mavhc]

Don't buy stuff you don't need.

[hardtailstar]

If you buy cans with one of these plastic collars (or similar):

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]54825[/ATTACH]

 

make sure you open/split all closed loops before throwing it away.

 

I already do.

Don't buy stuff you don't need.

I already don't.

[6Foot2]

If you buy cans with one of these plastic collars (or similar):

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]54825[/ATTACH]

 

make sure you open/split all closed loops before throwing it away.

 

 

I already do...

 

An alternative to the plastic 4 pack/6 pack rings (if you can find it) is biodegradable:

 

 

*I haven't been able to find any yet.

Edited August 31, 2019 by 6Foot2
Forgot to include a reply. :(

[elsiegee40]

September I'm challenging myself to be more responsible with plastics etc.

 

Any tips for day to day?

 

I already take my lunch in a box and used a metal spork to eat. I have a 1.5l bottle too.

 

Resist buying shrink wrapped multi packs (eg tins of to,atoes) if you can afford to.

 

Buy loose fruit and veg rather than pre-packaged.

 

Use the paper bags(supplied for mushrooms) father than the plastic ones for your loose fruit and veg. Or cope without.

 

If you must buy pre-packaged fruit and veg then look for minimal packaging and avoid nets (as used for onions) and black plastic trays at all times.

 

Always use you own shopping bags, don’t buy another.

 

Use your own water bottle and a refillable coffee cup. Don’t buy coffee shop paper cups.

 

Buy tins and glass ahead of anything in a plastic container,

 

Be aware of labels. Bottles, even glass ones, frequently have shrink wrapped plastic labels on them which must be removed before putting the bottle in the recycling. Ideally don’t buy bottles with these labels in the first place.

 

It’s always better to use your own container than buy something in a container. Buy loose fruit and veg in a market and they’ll weigh it then shove it loose in your bag. Our butcher will put meat in containers you bring yourself.

 

Avoid using miniature toiletries in hotels. Use your own large size stuff that you brought with you.

[mavhc]

Don't eat fish, most plastic in oceans is from fishing. Invest your money in countries with poor rubbish collection so it's put into landfill instead of rivers and thus the sea. The plastic you throw away in uk is landfilled, it's not really a problem.

[jmak]

Resist buying shrink wrapped multi packs (eg tins of to,atoes) if you can afford to.

 

 

I find that really difficult to do at around a 25% premium [emoji17]. Good news; Tesco's are going to introduce multi-buy prices to match/replace the plastic wrapped multi-packs.

 

Buy loose fruit and veg rather than pre-packaged.

 

Use the paper bags(supplied for mushrooms) father than the plastic ones for your loose fruit and veg. Or cope without.

 

 

I use either string bags or reusable clear plastic bags and shove them in there - after weighing and sticking printed labels on a sheet of paper to scan. Waitrose plastic veg bags are now compostable - still a waste, but better than non-recyclable...

 

 

It’s always better to use your own container than buy something in a container. Buy loose fruit and veg in a market and they’ll weigh it then shove it loose in your bag. Our butcher will put meat in containers you bring yourself.

 

 

Our local supermarkets let you take your own containers for fresh produce - although using local shops rather than supermarkets has different benefits you might value.

[jmak]

Don't eat fish, most plastic in oceans is from fishing. Invest your money in countries with poor rubbish collection so it's put into landfill instead of rivers and thus the sea. The plastic you throw away in uk is landfilled, it's not really a problem.

So, having taken the step of minimising single use plastics, do we reckon it's better to keep what I do end up with out of my recycling bin and send straight to landfill?

 

And what do we reckon about line caught fish, or farmed fish like salmon, trout or even most sea bass nowadays?

Edited September 1, 2019 by jmak

[jmak]

If you buy cans with one of these plastic collars (or similar):

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]54825[/ATTACH]

 

make sure you open/split all closed loops before throwing it away.

 

 

The Carlsberg packs look interesting:

 

 

Meet the Snap Pack.

 

Using innovative glue technology, the Snap Pack effectively reduces plastic usage by eliminating the traditional plastic wrapping.Not only does this reduce the risk of waste, it also reduces CO2 emissions and reliance on fossil fuel-based packaging.

 

[/Quote]

 

https://www.carlsberg.com/en-gb/betterment-hero-stories/snappack

 

The important question is whether it's drinkable....

Edited September 1, 2019 by jmak

[elsiegee40]

So, having taken the step of minimising single use plastics, do we reckon it's better to keep what I do end up with out of my recycling bin and send straight to landfill?

Better not to have the waste in the first place.

If there is waste then recycle it.

Landfill is the last thing you want to create

 

And what do we reckon about line caught fish, or farmed fish like salmon, trout or even most sea bass nowadays?

 

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