Should the production of plastics be outlawed?

Question

http://www.culturechange.org/e-letter-plastics_enemy.html

Answer 1

We can't do away with plastics entirely, but we darn sure can cut back on it.  There's a delicious candy confection you can buy in a package of four.  The outer wrap of plastic has all the written junk - name of the treat, ingredients, name of the manufacturer, etc.  Then inside that is another plastic wrapper - "to keep it fresh".  Then there's the plastic tray the candies come in, with a little well for each of the four identical pieces.  Then each piece is individually wrapped, with the name of the candy on that wrapper, in case you missed it when you opened the first layer of plastic.

Four layers of packaging?  Come ON, for cryin' out loud!  What a f*cking waste, especially when all that d**n  plastic has to be disposed of somehow...even if it were only three, or even two layers, we DO NOT need all that friggin' wrapping!

Answer 2

OK.  Since 99% of consumer products contain plastic components what do you suggest that we replace plastic with?  

Maybe we could try an Ethanol based biodegradeble plastic but then our food source would be destroyed because all of the land would be used to plant Ethanol producing plants.

Answer 3

Interesting article.  No, I do not think the production of plastics should be outlawed....and I'm pretty anti plastic.

I WANT electrical cords to be wrapped in plastic, and not cloth as they were a long time ago.

I WANT hoses to get water to my livestock.

I WANT plastic the the human, and vetrinarian medical field.

I WANT shampoo in plastic bottle....don't want to dance with broken glass in the shower.  However I would be very happy to take in empty gallon jugs (or even five gallon buckets!) and have them filled at stores that got the shampoo delivered in 55 gallon drums.  I can do that with Dr. Bronner's soaps.

However I'd be simply thrilled to see soda, juice and milk sold in glass bottles once again.  Remember when you could buy a soda in a glass bottle (they were still doing it in the 1980's!) and it actually stayed COLD?!  

I'd be thrilled to see all disposable diapers, except for ones from vending machines in airports, and gas stations, go by-by.  I can see the need/use of disposable diapers when traveling with an infant, but otherwise, forget it....use cloth.

I'd love to see reasonably priced ceramic insalators for my electric fences, instead of the plastic ones.

I'd love to see the outer shells on computers and monitors made from durable, lightweight metals...and completely recycleable when they reached the end of their lifespan.

Plastics have a use and need.  I think of plastics as I do perfume.  A little is quiet nice, and a little goes a long ways.  However we have ALL been near the woman who possitively marinated in perfume...GAG...and we all rush to get away to more breathable air.  

Same with plastics.  They are being GROSSLY over-used nowdays.  However I believe certain plastics are very much needed.  I'd like to see plastics disused wherever possible.  

I'll give you an example.  I'm a small farmer, on a permaculture farm.  We produce NO plastics with our products.  My customers come to my farm, and butcher meat goats here.  From time to time, I've had someone cut themselves during the butchering proccess.  Many of my customers are from the central African countries, where AIDS runs rampent.  I worked in the medical field for over 15 years.  The idea of touching a bleeding person,  without protecting myself with latex gloves is simply insane to me.

So I've been outside holding pressure bandages on a bleeding humans wound several time, and always with the gloves on.

Judicious use of plastics, AND judicious disposal of plastics is what the world needs.

~Garnet

Permaculture homesteading/farming over 20 years

Answer 4

Have you read all of this with any previous knowledge... it's a personal uninformed rant at best

"What is in plastics?  Lead, cadmium, mercury, dioxins, PCBs and other cancer causing petrochemicals"

eh?

Doesn't mean I disagree with the theory, the less plastics we use the better, but none at all? not a good idea.

Answer 5

No.That is a rant.Anyway we do need them just not for every itty bitty thing.We could cut back on many plastics and still have quality in our daily lives.