How can we get rid of plastic waste?

PS - saving the planet is everyone's responsible. There are no passengers on planet earth!!

That's what I was puzzled about too niggly. I've re read icys post and can't see anything contentious that needed challenging or clarifying either.

First line?

Strangely enough, protecting the environment is very political. That's why suzie said in her OP that there should be legal action, not just the will to do it.

Years ago, an elderly man was followed around a shop because "he'd got his own bag", it was assumed he was going to steal items! Luckily, things have changed, I've used my own bags for years, I think Kwiksave made you pay for bags so I took my own, sometimes got funny looks though.
We need to start in the schools, if we explain to children that this is for their future they will figure it out, and hopefully educate their parents because many people just don't care. Personally I don't buy cotton wool pads to remove make-up, just a muslin cloth that will last for ages, wipes are really not necessary are they, just more rubbish to fill the tips. Waste food compost or the local bird population, or freezing. There's a lot we can do individually, but some can't be bothered.

The net bags for fruit and veg is a good idea, although I don't have any net curtains, but you can buy those net washing bags.

As someone who has always refilled plastic bottles with tap water, I was concerned that a poster further back on this thread stated that this causes cancer.

According to Cancer Research UK THIS IS UNTRUE.

There are many hoax emails and unreliable internet articles warning about the so-called dangers of plastic bottles, containers and films. The emails generally warn people about reusing plastic bottles, freezing water in them or leaving them in hot cars. Some of them also talk about microwaving food in plastic containers or covered with plastic films.

However, there is no convincing scientific evidence to back up these claims or to suggest that any of these products could cause cancer.

www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/causes-of-cancer/cancer-controversies/plastic-

If you are wondering why Mrs May has just woken up to the plastics problem, it's quite simple. We have been sending ours to China but they have refused to take any more. www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/07/chinese-ban-on-plastic-waste-imports-could-see-uk-pollution-rise
Quite simply she had to do something. Unfortunately as usual it is too little and too late.
And sorry to all those posting nice unpolitical things about the little things they do. It is political. It is massive and only proper legislation can make a real difference.

Sorry durham, still can't see the relevance of your post to icy. However, back to the subject matter. .. Our village started a campaign to try and eliminate the use of plastic at the beginning of the year and all of the shops here are on board with it. We can take our own containers to the butchers and, after weighing out the meat, he puts it in our own tuppence or whatever you take. The 2 bakery shops only use paper bags now. It's surprising how quickly the majority of the village has taken to it and it's become a bit competitive as to who can be the most inventive recyclers!

varian I think this was started when an American singer got cancer and it was thought that re-used plastic bottles were leaching oestrogen-like chemicals into the water especially if the bottles were left in a hot car.
www.npr.org/2011/03/02/134196209/study-most-plastics-leach-hormone-like-chemicals

Chewbacca- the 'political' bit refers to a comment made by Nonnie on Friday 11.43.19:

'Not going to get political because that only puts posters off writing on a thread. Please stop it.'

Must say it made me jump too. Because most things are 'political' - be it health, education, transport, social issues, roads, etc, etc, etc, etc - and of course our attitude to waste and recycling. Which is why some countries have totally different ways of dealing with it- some are much more, or much less- willing to find solutions and spend the necessary money and time, energy and research - whilst others - and in this case sadly, the UK - just putting everything into landfilll and send the rest to other countries - be it nuclear waste, or plastics. Time for a massive change- and yes, there is no other way- it is political and collective responsibility, as well as individual.

Our butcher does NOT put our meat in our tuppence! He puts it in our Tupperware!

LOL

^ It is massive and only proper legislation can make a real difference.^
Perhaps we need to instigate a world summit, we can do our best but leading by example may not be enough.

I expect you're right Jalima but it just shows how easily lies and fake news can be spread on the internet. When we spot this sort of thing on GN or any other social medium, we need to correct it, rather than accept it at face value and volunteer to repeat it and spread it further.

I think it's worth checking out a reputable source like Cancer Research UK.

Oh thanks for clarification jura, I must admit that I was perplexed because durham wrote "Are you trying to make this thread political, icy?" Thank you anyway.

My last comment was in response to Jalima's post of 11.18.30.
When posts come thick and fast it's easy to lose the thread.

Minxie is right, the supermarkets don’t do the packaging but they have tremendous influence on the manufacturers.
Perhaps we could have a less packaging day when we all remove as much packaging as possible and leave It in a pile at the supermarket of our choice!
I ve stopped buying bottled water. My next deodorant will be in a glass bottle, every little helps.
It would be easier if every council had the same recycling rules and packaging wasn’t so complicated. No wonder that less committed people can’t be bothered.

The only time I ever buy bottled water is after going through security at an airport. I see that airports are now being asked to install drinking fountains in the departure lounge so people can refill their empty bottles before boarding.

I have three string bags and also a small nylon bag that folds in on itself to create something very tiny. I always take these shopping with me. I also have supermarket bags - large ones that clip on the sides of the trolley, so never need carrier bags in the supermarket.

Paper bag manufacturers are missing a golden opportunity to produce packing and carrier bags for the supermarkets - I don't understand why they haven't started already to be honest. My supermarket already has loose fruit and veg aplenty but only plastic bags to put your selection in - a switch could be made quite easily to paper bags if they were available. We could also go back to glass for packaging - we have been seduced into using plastic as they needed to get rid of the byproducts from petrol and oil production.

Education and fines to stop people dumping rubbish and bio degradable packaging.

I had forgotten that many fruits used to be in cardboard cartons, like eggs. Maybe supermarkets could go back to those - or are they also environmentally unfriendly in some way?

I am a WI member and we recently voted to campaign against "plastic soup" which is caused when tiny microfibres (not the same as micro plastic beads used in many skin products) from washing acrylic fabrics end up in the oceans. These can end up in the fish we eat. The only effective way of reducing this if by manufacturers of washing machines fitting filters in new machines or by fitting filters at water treatment centres - at great cost apparently. Again, this issue is something we need to raise awareness of and campaign at government level.

I think Gove and co. Need to look at how other countries manage their plastic waste and learn from them. At the end of the day, unless the government take action, the food manufacturers and supermarkets will go with the cheapest option.

I think the story is pretty widespread varian, many of my DC's friends all think that and use their own thermoses for cold water instead of buying bottled - which is a good thing for the environment anyway.

We can all do our little bit by taking a bag and filling it with plastic bottles etc., when going for a walk, especially on beaches.

Chewbacca
I digress from the main topic but completely agree with your comment on the use of the 'F' word .
Seconded by my friend's teacher of English Language daughter.