Can we get to legislating one use plastics out of use, get glass bottles back in, use paper for packaging etc etc? If those things don't happen, we are really going to need this plant. The population is increasing, and so is waste.

[–] RecallMadness 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Amen.

I have nearly a van full of polystyrene that I have no idea how get rid of. Can’t recycle it, can’t throw it out with my regular waste as it would cost me hundreds on half empty council bags.

And you can’t vote with your wallet. Nobody tells you you’re getting three cubic feet of shit along with your new fridge or whatever. The stuff should be banned.

[–] Dave 4 points 1 year ago

Where I live, Mitre 10 has free dropoff of polystyrene for recycling.

There's a list of dropoff places on this page: https://www.expol.co.nz/recycling-programmes

The list seems to only have Auckland and South Island stores, I'm in neither and my local takes polystyrene so definitely check in with your local store.

It notes that they can't do large volume, only up to 2 rubbish bags full equivalent at a time, so you may have to drip feed it in.

And as an aside I've noticed a lot less polystyrene in appliances these days if you get more expensive brands.

[–] NoRamyunForYou 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I do wonder how we would change out plastic packaging for a lot of foods etc. with paper based products with current technology. We've become so dependent on things being sealed. I guess it would have multiple levels to it, including technology and behaviours.

[–] Dave 3 points 1 year ago

I guess what you need is an organic substance that breaks down quickly enough to be useful but slower than the product it's holding.

Home compostable packaging is already available and is often used for things like bags of coffee beans. These in theory should be able to be expanded to other dry products.

You'd probably be able to get away with similar packaging for things like bread. Has water content but the bread only lasts a few days anyway so it doesn't matter if it starts breaking down in a few weeks.

I reckon much of the technology we need for alternatives exists already, but the cost is currently prohibitive.