Common Man Replaces Plastic Straws

[joey2665]

Nice to see a move towards less plastic I hope somehow they can replace the plastic cups and utensils at Town Docks

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/comm...ntent=headline


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[garysanfran]

$1,000 fine.

[codeman671]

I am not a fan of using paper straws, but certainly agree with the shift to help the environment. I'd rather just not use one at all.

[WinnisquamZ]

Like the idea that restaurants are taking this action themselves instead of being regulated too. It is positive to read the Common Man franchise is taking this direction, but should not accolades be given to O’s that went this direction 3 months ago


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[joey2665]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

Like the idea that restaurants are taking this action themselves instead of being regulated too. It is positive to read the Common Man franchise is taking this direction, but should not accolades be given to O’s that went this direction 3 months ago


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Absolutely, I have not been to O or Canoe since September so I had no idea

[MAXUM]

Things that make you go HMMM....

Replacing plastic with paper means more trees will be cut down which is also bad for the environment so the environmentalists say, or have said.

Recycling can only recover so much as compared to demand so the net hit here is that more trees will need to be cut down to satisfy supply. Nobody ever mentions the environmental hit recycling takes... Recycling paper saves energy, reduces pollution, preserves trees and conserves landfill space, but it is a messy process that uses caustic chemicals and produces harmful byproducts and emissions.

In the grand scheme of things swapping over to plastic straws may "feel good" but the reality is what is it really doing other than feeling good about one's self. Answer is not much.

I wonder if the state of California cared so much about the environment why not go mental about the volume of plastic hypodermic needles that litter the urban areas there? Are they not both an environmental and biohazard problem? Guess not...

I'm all for doing stuff like this that makes sense... most of it does not. All this is doing is shifting the environment impact to a place where it's not seen and costs the consumer more.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Things that make you go HMMM....

Replacing plastic with paper means more trees will be cut down which is also bad for the environment so the environmentalists say, or have said.

Recycling can only recover so much as compared to demand so the net hit here is that more trees will need to be cut down to satisfy supply. Nobody ever mentions the environmental hit recycling takes... Recycling paper saves energy, reduces pollution, preserves trees and conserves landfill space, but it is a messy process that uses caustic chemicals and produces harmful byproducts and emissions.

In the grand scheme of things swapping over to plastic straws may "feel good" but the reality is what is it really doing other than feeling good about one's self. Answer is not much.

I wonder if the state of California cared so much about the environment why not go mental about the volume of plastic hypodermic needles that litter the urban areas there? Are they not both an environmental and biohazard problem? Guess not...

I'm all for doing stuff like this that makes sense... most of it does not. All this is doing is shifting the environment impact to a place where it's not seen and costs the consumer more.

I am by no means an environmentalist however we do use way too much plastic, especially the shopping bags. Also I disagree about the caustic chemical used in recycling. More and more companies are shifting to non caustic natural products to recycle paper and at worst the caustic chemicals do not stay around in a landfill for the next century like the straws and shopping bags.

[GodSmile]

Originally Posted by joey2665

I am by no means an environmentalist however we do use way too much plastic, especially the shopping bags. Also I disagree about the caustic chemical used in recycling. More and more companies are shifting to non caustic natural products to recycle paper and at worst the caustic chemicals do not stay around in a landfill for the next century like the straws and shopping bags.

I was in the paper recycling industry, admittedly a long time ago, but other considerations: a byproduct of paper recycling is 'short paper fiber' AKA sludge. This goes into a land fill unless some other use has been found. Also the recycling process was (and I believe still is) energy intensive. No perfect solution... at least not yet.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by joey2665

I am by no means an environmentalist however we do use way too much plastic, especially the shopping bags. Also I disagree about the caustic chemical used in recycling. More and more companies are shifting to non caustic natural products to recycle paper and at worst the caustic chemicals do not stay around in a landfill for the next century like the straws and shopping bags.

And if recycling can be done where the environmental impact is reduced or better yet eliminated that's great and thus a sound solution. However to many just "assume" that if they don't see "it" then we're all good when the reality is that is not always the case. Most don't pay to much attention to what happens "behind the scenes" such as the actual recycling process used in this case.

I'm no environmentalist either, however always a proponent of doing things that are friendly to the environment when and where it makes sense to do so. The jury is out on this one, but as usual the feel good legislators think waving a magic legislative wand will do it.... well no that is simply wishful thinking and shifting the impact out of the public eye. You'd think the prudent thing to do instead of instituting a ban on something such as California has done blindly - weigh the proposed replacement option in it's entirety first! That would include the economic impact as well.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

And if recycling can be done where the environmental impact is reduced or better yet eliminated that's great and thus a sound solution. However to many just "assume" that if they don't see "it" then we're all good when the reality is that is not always the case. Most don't pay to much attention to what happens "behind the scenes" such as the actual recycling process used in this case.

I'm no environmentalist either, however always a proponent of doing things that are friendly to the environment when and where it makes sense to do so. The jury is out on this one, but as usual the feel good legislators think waving a magic legislative wand will do it.... well no that is simply wishful thinking and shifting the impact out of the public eye. You'd think the prudent thing to do instead of instituting a ban on something such as California has done blindly - weigh the proposed replacement option in it's entirety first! That would include the economic impact as well.

Agreed and to prove your point here in NY after recycling is collected some communities do not bother sending it all to the recycling center and it is just mixed later with the regular trash giving people the false sense it is all being recycled.

[Irish mist]

Originally Posted by joey2665

Agreed and to prove your point here in NY after recycling is collected some communities do not bother sending it all to the recycling center and it is just mixed later with the regular trash giving people the false sense it is all being recycled.

That's happening in a lot of communities. Recycling costs are becoming prohibitive.

[Rusty]

I'll just bring my own plastic straw whenever I go out to eat.....and yes I will bring it home to dispose of it.
The nonplastic straws are like a sipping straw that are used for mixed drinks, the inside diameter is too small..at least the ones of come across.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by Irish mist

That's happening in a lot of communities. Recycling costs are becoming prohibitive.

Increased labor costs and the switch to more natural products to process the paper and plastic. Still we need to start someplace but I do not know what the answer is.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by joey2665

Increased labor costs and the switch to more natural products to process the paper and plastic. Still we need to start someplace but I do not know what the answer is.

Let the industry develop sound, friendly and cost effective techniques. It'll happen but not necessarily on a legislated time table. There is enough interest in recycling and people across the country have shown a willingness to but it has to make sense.

Like any other alternative energy source, don't think you'll find anyone who disagrees that renewables are a fantastic way to go, but it'll take time for the technology to fully develop. Major strides have been made in this regard and the results are getting increasingly competitive with fossil fuels... but there is a ways to go yet. Taxing the hell out of fossil fuels and government subsidizing alternative sources of energy is nothing but an expensive and artificial way to close that gap. Of course tax payers and consumers (in most cases one in the same) end up getting screwed.

[joey2665]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Let the industry develop sound, friendly and cost effective techniques. It'll happen but not necessarily on a legislated time table. There is enough interest in recycling and people across the country have shown a willingness to but it has to make sense.

Like any other alternative energy source, don't think you'll find anyone who disagrees that renewables are a fantastic way to go, but it'll take time for the technology to fully develop. Major strides have been made in this regard and the results are getting increasingly competitive with fossil fuels... but there is a ways to go yet. Taxing the hell out of fossil fuels and government subsidizing alternative sources of energy is nothing but an expensive and artificial way to close that gap. Of course tax payers and consumers (in most cases one in the same) end up getting screwed.

In the meantime, if move move more from plastic to paper the paper eventually will decompose in a very short amount of time where the plastic stays around forever.

[thinkxingu]

Why have straws at all?

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[baygo]

We have been using compostable plastic straws for almost 9 years.

[WinnisquamZ]

After all this paper or plastic straw discussion, can we all agree it is irrelevant as the paper straws get tossed in a plastic garage bag where they will sit for the next 1k years. Bring back the local incinerators!!


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[Joebon]

Reduce, reuse, recycle. Recycling is the last resort. Reduce by not using a straw. If you use a straw, reuse it more than once.


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[gravy boat]

Kind of surprised FLL didn't suggest the Federal government issue all persons (keeping it PC here) living in the US Crazy Straws (remember those?) and require their use and each person using said straws to bring them home to clean. Or....actually place your lips to the glass and drink as in the good ol' days.

[SAMIAM]

Guess I'm just old fashioned …...but when I was growing up we just drank out of glasses and cups.Why are straws even needed?

[tis]

Originally Posted by WinnisquamZ

After all this paper or plastic straw discussion, can we all agree it is irrelevant as the paper straws get tossed in a plastic garage bag where they will sit for the next 1k years. Bring back the local incinerators!!


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That is a really good point. The little tiny plastic straw is nothing compared to those big plastic bags. Will we need to change to paper garbage bags?

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by tis

That is a really good point. The little tiny plastic straw is nothing compared to those big plastic bags. Will we need to change to paper garbage bags?

No we all need to get a Mr. Fusion.

We have not yet determined how many plastic straws will result in the needed 1.21 gigawatts of power required to breech the space time continuum.

[8gv]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Guess I'm just old fashioned …...but when I was growing up we just drank out of glasses and cups.Why are straws even needed?

When I was growing up we drank directly out of streams...

[ApS]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Guess I'm just old fashioned …...but when I was growing up we just drank out of glasses and cups.
Why are straws even needed?

Especially when you don't know where they've been?



.

[joey2665]

Oh well I didn’t want t the thread to be a huge environmental discussion just thought it was nice to see local companies trying to be proactive and I’m always concerned about the long term welfare of the lake.


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[Biggd]

I watched 60 minutes last week, I believe, and they had a story about a recluse that spent his whole life working on developing fuel from plants. It evolved into making plastics that would disintegrated at a certain time limit, like a time bomb, and he could control that time limit. He made fuel from plants that could go right into the tank of your car without any modifications. If you can look it up It was very interesting, check it out. It looked like it was just a matter of getting the product costs down to where it can compete with fossil fuels.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Biggd

I watched 60 minutes last week, I believe, and they had a story about a recluse that spent his whole like working on developing fuel from plants. It evolved into making plastics that would disintegrated at a certain time limit, like a time bomb, and he could control that time limit. He made fuel from plants that could go right into the tank of your car without any modifications. If you can look it up It was very interesting, check it out. It looked like it was just a matter of getting the product costs down to where it can compete with fossil fuels.

Interesting that they didn't go over and interview the folks over at Exxon/Mobile - ya know the evil "big oil" company who continues to spend a lot of time and effort developing cost effective bio fuels as well. It only makes sense think of the value of that technology if perfected…. a lost cost bio fuel would be worth a fortune.

The reason why, and excuse my cynicism, that wouldn't fit the CBS narrative of "big oil" = evil.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Interesting that they didn't go over and interview the folks over at Exxon/Mobile - ya know the evil "big oil" company who continues to spend a lot of time and effort developing cost effective bio fuels as well. It only makes sense think of the value of that technology if perfected…. a lost cost bio fuel would be worth a fortune.

The reason why, and excuse my cynicism, that wouldn't fit the CBS narrative of "big oil" = evil.

The story was about a guy who devoted his whole life to developing a new energy source that would also protect the health of the planet. Making money was not his objective. Watch the show!
I think we can all determine that Exxon-Mobil and "big oil" is none of that! They only develop new technology when forced to do so by government regulations, which have been stripped away by the new administration. Otherwise they would just strip the planet of all it's natural resources just to increase profits.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Biggd

The story was about a guy who devoted his whole life to developing a new energy source that would also protect the health of the planet. Making money was not his objective. Watch the show!
I think we can all determine that Exxon-Mobil and "big oil" is none of that! They only develop new technology when forced to do so by government regulations, which have been stripped away by the new administration. Otherwise they would just strip the planet of all it's natural resources just to increase profits.

Government regulation is not needed for anyone to see the value of a low cost sustainable bio fuel. It's the holy grail of the energy industry.

Over and needless regulation of the oil industry and what the current administration is doing about that is a both a geo political and domestic economic discussion that frankly you wouldn't understand.

[Biggd]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Government regulation is not needed for anyone to see the value of a low cost sustainable bio fuel. It's the holy grail of the energy industry.

Over and needless regulation of the oil industry and what the current administration is doing about that is a both a geo political and domestic economic discussion that frankly you wouldn't understand.

If you say so, it must be true. Imagine, someone doing something for the sole purpose of helping the environment and not for money. Must be fake news, LOL!

[thinkxingu]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

...that frankly you wouldn't understand.

Awesome.

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[Patofnaud]

When I was younger we didn't have plastic straws, they were paper. They fell apart halfway through your milk carton, so we went to plastic.

So one picture of a turtle with a plastic straw stuck in its nose and the world flips and laws are made. RSA-Kneejerk-101.

If you gonna get rid of straws, then solo cups and all plastic products should be on the list. Else it is just a show.

[swnoel]

Don't worry... now that Democrats have been elected, they'll fix these problems and also ones they create with more taxpayer money! Another solution is to bring your own plates, utensils, etc... then demand the food be discounted!

[ApS]

Originally Posted by joey2665

Oh well I didn’t want t the thread to be a huge environmental discussion just thought it was nice to see local companies trying to be proactive and I’m always concerned about the long term welfare of the lake.

Yup...me too.

I can't tell you how many plastic straws I've pulled out of the lake!


>

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by swnoel

Don't worry... now that Democrats have been elected, they'll fix these problems and also ones they create with more taxpayer money! Another solution is to bring your own plates, utensils, etc... then demand the food be discounted!

Really what needs to happen is all restaurants be banned. Think of how much food is wasted, how much trash is generated, how much energy is wasted producing inefficiently individual meals. The whole thing is utterly and completely shameful. Shut them all down. Problem solved.

In fact as Nancy Pelosi would say they are IMMORAL.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

I purchased some metal straws. I bring them to the restaurant when I go out to eat.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by Greene's Basin Girl

I purchased some metal straws. I bring them to the restaurant when I go out to eat.

Great minds think alike, I did the same thing.

[phoenix]

Good for them but hope at some time they figure how to make paper straws last more than ten minutes

[Outdoorsman]

Originally Posted by phoenix

Good for them but hope at some time they figure how to make paper straws last more than ten minutes

Just put plastic over the paper.

[Mr. V]

Originally Posted by phoenix

Good for them but hope at some time they figure how to make paper straws last more than ten minutes

Give the straw a light coating of wax.

[Rusty]

I get a chuckle when I get a nonplastic straw at the beginning of a meal and than get a styrofoam takeout container to bring leftovers home.
I'd rather see a way of collecting plastic straws so they get recycled instead of banning them.

[Major]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I get a chuckle when I get a nonplastic straw at the beginning of a meal and than get a styrofoam takeout container to bring leftovers home.
I'd rather see a way of collecting plastic straws so they get recycled instead of banning them.

Rusty and I actually agree on something! The plastic straw movement, so to speak, is wholly and completely a feel-good exercise. It makes little if no difference. Like Rusty, I'd rather see greater efforts made in preventing littering or encouraging recycling than banning things like plastic straws and plastic bags that make our lives easier. I just read that five nations in the Pacific (China, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam) dump more plastic in the ocean than the rest of the world combined. This isn't an excuse to do nothing; however, we shouldn't destroy our economy or our way of life just to feel good about ourselves.

On a related note, I had a paper straw for the first time in my life last week. It broke down after 20 or so minutes, but the thing that I didn't like, and will take some getting used to, was the gritty texture. I guess I'm use to smooth straws.