Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, disposable utensils by 2030

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by oldcynic on Thursday February 22, 2018 @09:58AM (#16437931)

That's broadly where I'd go with plastic bottles - £1 deposit, rising to £5 and compel supermarkets and manufacturers to take the returns. I'm old enough to remember the 20p(?) deposit on glass bottles of fizzy pop. Also when supermarkets were selling milk in glass bottles - and provided crates in the same section for customers to return the empties.

This used to be a solved problem.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by mturmon on Thursday February 22, 2018 @11:21AM (#16438663)

This approach is used in California and other states and it generally works. The deposit is 5 cents and certain "healthy" drinks (juices, milk) are not charged. [If you live in CA, know all this, and are just arguing for a much higher fee - my apologies.]

Most middle-class people don't take household bottles in for the 5c back -- they recycle them in bulk for free -- but bottles in public areas are scooped up by poorer people.

Also, some people game the system in various ways, like importing out-of-state cans for the return value, or other types of fraud, which can be abetted by shady recycling firms.

So basically, a micro-economy was created with all its attendant functional and not-so-functional aspects. But the basic problem of roadside litter was largely solved.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by lanaius on Thursday February 22, 2018 @12:45PM (#16439492)

I didn't have the time to wait in line every few weeks to turn in my recyclables in LA so I put them all in a bag next to the dumpster for the complex. I didn't start doing this until after I noticed the dumpster divers were coming anyways.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by mattmanser on Thursday February 22, 2018 @10:16AM (#16438067)

Surprise, surprise, corporate greed and lobbying are the cause that it's no longer a solved problem:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/may/02/plasti...

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by emodendroket on Thursday February 22, 2018 @09:59AM (#16437943)

I think the idea of loss aversion suggests that people would be more likely to avoid taking a bag at the time than they would be to return them for a deposit (not that this is an option with bottles).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by abakker on Thursday February 22, 2018 @10:08AM (#16438004)

I really want a deposit/membership at my local grocery store for reusable bags. I don't want to remember them. I want to use some standard, reusable ones at the store, and then be able to return them in bulk for my deposit back. I end up taking paper bags in SF because I constantly forget to bring reusable ones, despite having dozens at home.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by barrkel on Thursday February 22, 2018 @10:37AM (#16438234)

The habit to get into is have a non-bulky resuable bag that folds up nice and flat and keep it in a jacket pocket or some other location that's available when you're out and about; and to put the bag back in that place when you finish unpacking at home.

Relying on remembering before you leave the house or whatever is much less effective, I think.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by dwaltrip on Thursday February 22, 2018 @04:06PM (#16441395)

I had the same problem. I keep mine in my car now, which had helped.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Taiwan ban single-use plastic straws, plastic bags, dispo... by TorKlingberg on Thursday February 22, 2018 @12:31PM (#16439350)

That is how it works in places like Sweden and Norway. The deposit doesn't have to be as high as you suggest to make it work.

[ Parent | on HN ]