On 6/22/2025 at 3:38 PM, KhunLA said:

Easily solved, if people cared.  Stop transporting via the seas.  No real reason to use oil tankers, except higher profits.  

 

All in favor of a complete ban on fossil fuel production.  In the 21st century, it's almost an unnecessary material to be used for most things.

 

And yet you claim it is better to use hydrocarbons to make plastic bags.  

44 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

Or because paper dissolves in water?

Have to be careful reusing paper bags. If they get wet and you dry them out, don't overload them. Just a few light items. I found this out after I'd washed a few with a view to drying them out for further use. The spuds went all over the floor.

 

So be careful out there.

On 6/22/2025 at 1:34 PM, unblocktheplanet said:

Okay, I admit it. I'm a plastic bag junkie. Easy, lazy. Great for rubbish.

 

But I've got a lot of guilt about it. I carry a Makro heavy plastic bag wherever I go. In fact, I'm having a strap repaired at the sewing lady. But even Makro puts everything in plastic bags.

 

Microplastics and forever chemicals in all life, not only humans but down to the tinest creatures.

 

What are others doing about this?

I keep mine for rubbish and throw them out when they are full.

8 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

I keep mine for rubbish and throw them out when they are full.

This is a good idea. 

 

I've reckon that if you get say 100 plastic bags flatten them good. Carefully fold them and put them in a small plastic bag they can be used to reinforce concrete. They have to be pretty tight knit though. Same with plastic bottles. Just chop them up and use them for road repairing.

1 hour ago, 0james0 said:

No sir, it’s you who are the one who is ignorant. 

 

Oh please.  I'll put my environment impact on the planet (that doesn't need saving) against 99.9% of the AN members, and come out way ahead.   Most are still using fossil fuels for all your transport and energy needs.

 

We have 3 BEVs & charge with excess solar at the house.  99+% off grid.  So save your hypocrisy, about us burning maybe 1 kg worth of plastic a year.  

 

Coming up on 3 years of Solar (Aug 2022), and 99+% of our energy, comes from solar.  Less than 1% from the grid, and 99+% of all local driving, from solar also. 

 

Y'all crack me up.   THANKS for the chuckles  

 

Inverter is telling me, we sent more to the grid, than we used 

 

 

35 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

 

And yet you claim it is better to use hydrocarbons to make plastic bags.  

 

Since it's already there, again, it's a byproduct of something already being done, so use it.

On 6/22/2025 at 3:46 PM, still kicking said:

Not driving anymore 

he drives an EV so he doesn't care about anyone else

 

11 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I'll put my environment impact on the planet

What about the environmental impact on your neighbors? Burning plastic bags is toxic, the smoke can be smelled from a long distance. May I remind you dear friend, this thread is in The Wellness Zone forum to inspire healthiness, yet you’re advocating for a unhealthy toxic practice.

13 minutes ago, novacova said:

What about the environmental impact on your neighbors? Burning plastic bags is toxic, the smoke can be smelled from a long distance. May I remind you dear friend, this thread is in The Wellness Zone forum to inspire healthiness, yet you’re advocating for a unhealthy toxic practice.

 

I think they'll live, considering all the crap they burn at times.  They just started municipal trash pick up, and few utilize it, as it isn't mandatory.   So nuff said there.

 

I was curious, so I actually weighed those 2 bags of 'bags', and easily more than 1 year worth of bags.   Since most / 95% of our shopping is done at Makro.   

 

1 hour ago, 0james0 said:

 

 

Y'all do realize, I live in a village, (one 4 way staggered intersection, no stop sign) outside of a real town, 5 kms away, that has <26k people living there. 

 

My closest neighbor is further than 100 meters away 

 

@novacova  You don't drive, but guessing you don't walk everywhere either.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

My closest neighbor is further than 100 meters away

100 meters isn’t far for toxic smoke to travel.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

You don't drive, but guessing you don't walk everywhere either.

A strange defensive and poor erroneous assumption.

16 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I was curious, so I actually weighed those 2 bags of 'bags', and easily more than 1 year worth of bags.   Since most / 95% of our shopping is done at Makro.   

 

Makro is one of the worst offenders for plastics! Yes, we reuse for trash, of course, but we can keep up with the constant new bags.

2 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Makro is one of the worst offenders for plastics! Yes, we reuse for trash, of course, but we can keep up with the constant new bags.

I don't think so, as VM, Tops, Gourmet markets seem to like wrapping or packaging every fruit & veggy selection.   Makro we still get to pick the better pieces from the rack.   Though have noticed they are starting tp pre package more.  Kind of irrelevant, since all going in plastic bag anyway. 

 

At least Makro doesn't put all you plastic bags in yet another plastic bag at check out.   If I cared, I'd just shop at the fresh market, but since already at Makro, I can't be bothered.

 

Y'all sure do live in a different world than me.  Maybe it's all location dependent.

Personally, I have used the same plastic bag for five years. She Who Must Be Obeyed uses a cloth bag and has for many years. Just reuse them.

2 hours ago, KhunLA said:

I don't think so, as VM, Tops, Gourmet markets seem to like wrapping or packaging every fruit & veggy selection.   Makro we still get to pick the better pieces from the rack.   Though have noticed they are starting tp pre package more.  Kind of irrelevant, since all going in plastic bag anyway. 

 

At least Makro doesn't put all you plastic bags in yet another plastic bag at check out.   If I cared, I'd just shop at the fresh market, but since already at Makro, I can't be bothered.

 

Y'all sure do live in a different world than me.  Maybe it's all location dependent.

There are different types of plastic bags.

 

I like the chicken-foot soup that yer get when yer order kow pow. I ordered a soup take-out a couple of years ago. The lady put the very hot soup into a plastic bag. A couple of hours later I had a cup of the soup with me spicy sausages. Yer know what? Tasted more of plastic than chicken foot. Didn't do that again. Bought a glass jar with a screw top.

 

On the other hand, plastic is a godsend for koi carp transportation around the world. 

 

Some good uses and some not so good.

On 6/22/2025 at 3:37 PM, still kicking said:

• There is an estimated 75 to 199 million tons of plastic waste currently in our oceans.
• A further 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the marine environment every single year.

Please keep the units the same to enable easy comparison.

56 minutes ago, Stiddle Mump said:

There are different types of plastic bags.

 

I like the chicken-foot soup that yer get when yer order kow pow. I ordered a soup take-out a couple of years ago. The lady put the very hot soup into a plastic bag. A couple of hours later I had a cup of the soup with me spicy sausages. Yer know what? Tasted more of plastic than chicken foot. Didn't do that again. Bought a glass jar with a screw top.

 

On the other hand, plastic is a godsend for koi carp transportation around the world. 

 

Some good uses and some not so good.

They actually make 'hot' & not hot food bags.  But cost fractional more, so many vendors don't buy.  I don't buy food that comes in those low tech bags, unless it's room temp or cold.

 

Paper bags have such a limited use, I'm surprised anyone recommends them.  Reuse of them is a joke, and don't think I ever have, in my life time.   With exception of lunch bag in elementary school.  

 

Want to see the paper bag boys get a bag of ice at the local vendor, or ice cream, anything frosted or hot & steamy.   They are truly silly in their arguments.   

If upscale shops didn't have printing on them as adverts, they also wouldn't use them.  If printed, then off to the landfill with them, as cost more to recycle than simply make new.

 

I think the only time we get paper bag is from bakery or specialty shop, and simply holds what ever product that is in a plastic container ... 

I see Makro is starting to get as silly as the upscale chains, with plastic in the veggie section 

 

Plus I used to break off the stems, when putting in the bag myself.   Hate paying for stuff I'm not going to use.   Be different if it was usable, but don't think anyone eats the stems.  Got plenty of waste for compost piles, so I don't need to buy it.   Maybe I'll weigh them if I remember to 🙄

 

 

Yea, I'm F'd up in the head ... but ...

First, kudos, as paid for 500gr X 5 packs, of peppers, and all in, weighed 2563.

 

 

Stems weighing in at 45gr, so maybe they take the stems into consideration.   Think positive.  On that note, when I do weigh things, products, (actually rare, I'm not that F'd up), then they all have been at or over, printed weights.  Some, quite a bit over ... and none under, I think.

 

Yea, I weighed the bags also, out of curiosity, and 6+ gr each 🙄

 

 

Now I have more plastic to burn ... if only I could turn that into energy.   I guess if wife punched holes int the plastic 'bags' she could use to wrap fruits in the garden, keep the birds & squirrels at bay, from munching.

 

 

On 6/22/2025 at 2:15 PM, hotandsticky said:

I use canvass bags.....except when I forget

Me too. But usually I forget...

I always carry heavy duty nylon shopping bag anytime I go out for shopping.

Also carrying half dozen plastic bags of various sizes in it.

A small bag for small stuff, big one for bigger merchandise.

 

I occasionally give it to someone who needs it(carrying more than a handful purchases with bare hands.

 

Every time I buy fresh produce at local markets, I always decline plastic bags before the sellers offer.

Saying nai sai  tun(no bags, please).

 

I already got heaps of them at home.

And I would rather reuse them.

13 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

I always carry heavy duty nylon shopping bag anytime I go out for shopping.

Also carrying half dozen plastic bags of various sizes in it.

A small bag for small stuff, big one for bigger merchandise.

 

I occasionally give it to someone who needs it(carrying more than a handful purchases with bare hands.

 

Every time I buy fresh produce at local markets, I always decline plastic bags before the sellers offer.

Saying nai sai  tun(no bags, please).

 

I already got heaps of them at home.

And I would rather reuse them.

Don't forget that plastic bags to stick frozen or refrigerated products in, not to sweat against your carry bag, especially if cloth, to keep it fresh & clean.   Avoiding unnecessary washing. 

 

You know, save the planet's precious, limited, ground water from that preventable unnecessary washing.  Along with energy to actually wash, unless done by hand.   Surely y'all don't use a machine, that runs of fossil fuels  

 

Plastic is good, once again 

Plastic bags are a good long-term alternative to paper bags. They don't break easily - I have been using the same bag for 5-6 years for Seven-11 runs - and they are super lightweight. The problem, of course, is how people dispose of them plus the scarcity of broken bag recyclers.

As I have yet to find the end-of-life of my trusty plastic bag, I still recommend them. Honestly, paper bags are single use only in the rain so just take a plastic bag.

 

8 hours ago, KhunLA said:

 Along with energy to actually wash, unless done by hand.   

 

Since my settlement here in late 2005, I  have been doing most of my washing by hand, during my bath time.

 

The only exception, curtain of my windows once a year toward the end of December.

 

Have never had any hygienic problems with my food.

I know all about how to keep food clean and safe.

Used to be a licensed cook in my 20's.