Comments on: Toronto’s Garbage Strike, A Reminder of our Global Plastic Problem

By: davendeb

davendeb — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:41:31 +0000

Hi Amy, you are right. I believe everyone wants to reduce waste. It is great to wash the plastic bottle, that is amazing that your grandma washed the plastic bag too. I only wish that I knew what we can do to stop the plastic bag situation around the globe. We are running out of space to put them

By: Amy @ The Q Family

Amy @ The Q Family — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:35:10 +0000

That’s great that they ban plastic bag. I wish they will do more here in America. Only IKEA and Whole Food implement this policy. I use reusable bags in all my shopping trip. My daughter is on duty for recycle. I guess a small step we can take is teaching the next generation about this important issue.

On the topic of developing country, I think even though they might not have money for the program to reduce the waste. I think in general they have the mind-set of recycle. I remember my grandma who will keep every plastic bag or bottle, wash them and reuse them.

By: davendeb

davendeb — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:54:10 +0000

Hi Liz, No I don’t have suggestions for developing countries unfortunately. You are right, there are not a lot of options when you are in a country with unsafe tap water and you have to buy bottled water. But at least at least if we start talking about it, maybe we can come up with a solution on day. And if developing countries cut down on buying bottled water when they don’t have to, it will help. Maybe we can start selling water in glass containers that can be cleaned and re-used like we used to do with milk way back in the day. There has to be other alternatives. When I was in Africa, everyone went to the wells with large plastic bins to fill their water with. What did they use before plastic came around? I don’t know.
Jen, good for you for not using plastic bottles. It is true, all we can do is our own little part and hopefully if everyone does their little bit, things can change in a big way.

By: Liz

Liz — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:51:27 +0000

It’d be great if the US would adopt the pay-per-bag system, too. In Finland, which charges something like 15 cents per bag (I don’t remember the exact amount), you rarely see trash anywhere; in Nicaragua, where supermarkets double-bag everything, trash lines the gutters and parks. I once saw a truck back up to the side of the road, dump its entire contents, and drive away. Incredible.

I telecommute from developing countries with unsafe tap water–any suggestions to cut down on plastic bottle use in that situation?

By: jen laceda

jen laceda — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:46:11 +0000

Personally, we try not to use any plastics at all at home. That’s our humble contribution. With my daughter (who’s now 2-1/2) I refused to use any plastics (bottle) with her, so I worked hard at breastfeeding. I had breastfed her for 19 months when that plastic scare happened and the government banned plastic feeding bottles. Even to this day, she drinks out of a stainless drinking carafe — it’s $20 each compared to $6 for plastic. But if you amortize per use and just the think about the long-term health benefit, it’s worth it to pay extra!