Technology
This is the official technology community of Lemmy.ml for all news related to creation and use of technology, and to facilitate civil, meaningful discussion around it.
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Some stuff can't really be made very well without plastic. It can vastly be cut down, for certain. But it isn't yet realistic to eliminate yet. We need replacement materials and ways to eliminate what is already here.
Right. But we need to at least hold companies accountable and get them moving in the right direction. Currently they don't give a shit. Single use plastics are ridiculous right now, at least in the US. Unnecessary and can easily be replaced or simply not used.
We live in an oligarchy. As long as plastic is cheaper and gets sales, it will keep being used unless a law bans it. I lived in a time when soda was canned or in glass bottles. The stuff tasted better bottled in glass. Plastic was lighter and cheaper, so it got switched.
There is a pretty good way: burn it.
Most plastics can't be recycled in any meaningful way, so just burn it and use the energy. There are some legitimate uses for plastics, but most of it is wasted.
And always remember: most of the plastic in the ocean is fishing gear, not household waste.