• kassiopaea@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        22 days ago

        Well, here in California we’ve decided that most stores are mandated to provide “reusable” plastic shopping bags (at a cost of $0.10 each) which are more durable and made of a thicker plastic.

        I don’t know a single person that treats them as any less disposable than the thin plastic bags they replaced. There is little to no information or infrastructure supporting recycling them.

        I’m just glad the stores around here give paper bags if you ask for them.

    • Kazumara@discuss.tchncs.de
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      23 days ago

      Why do you mean? Am I missing some context? Or do you think I’m conflating recyclable with reusable?

      They actually do have re-use programs where bottles are cleaned and refilled. Unfortunately they also have single use, that are only recycled, I’m not trying to hide that. But the re-use program seems good to me. I wish we had it in Switzerland.

      https://www.nabu.de/umwelt-und-ressourcen/ressourcenschonung/einzelhandel-und-umwelt/mehrweg/nabumehrwegguide.html

    • Synapse@lemmy.world
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      23 days ago

      Some PET bottles are reusable in Germany, and the scuff marks are a very clear sign some of these bottles have been used a good dozen times.

      It’s not all bottles though, many will be crushed and recycled (I hope).

      • Oniononon@sopuli.xyz
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        22 days ago

        you shouldnt cause recycling is a scam and wastes energy and material. The guilt was pushed upon the consumer by the plastic industry.

        Real solution would be regulations on what materials are allowed for packaging, and making clear guidelines how a thing should be packaged so you dont get 20 fucking boxes filled with plastic bags and peanuts and foam for a pet rock.

        • albert180@piefed.social
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          22 days ago

          Dude, >98% of the Bottles in Germany get recycled, and thanks to the deposit system they get pure PET out of it which is well recyclable.

          Plastic pollution is a big problem. PET Bottles in Western Europe aren’t a part of it. Other plastics are

      • MajesticElevator@lemmy.zip
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        22 days ago

        There is no such thing as an indefinitely recyclable plastic. The best kind can only be recycled a few times.

        • BussyCat@lemmy.world
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          22 days ago

          Reusable is different than recyclable. They mentioned reusable plastic as in you make it out of a thicker material and only wash it in between uses so that by the time it’s actually damaged enough to be recycled it’s been used many times

            • BussyCat@lemmy.world
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              22 days ago

              That’s not where all our microplastics are coming from, the much bigger concern is driving cars which leaches a bunch of microplastics from the tires that end up in our waterways. By reusing the plastics you have less deliveries so less microplastics in your local water supply

              • HertzDentalBar@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                22 days ago

                Micro rubbers, I much prefer to believe we’re just helping the microscopic life forms practice safe sex. It’s the only way to stop viruses from spreading 🤷‍♀️

            • albert180@piefed.social
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              22 days ago

              You’re constantly moving Goalposts. Point is, “Mehrweg”-Bottles in Germany are getting refilled, and they are more environmentally friendly than the single use ones. The PET-Multiuse even more so because they have smaller transport emissions thanks to the smaller weight