Why do we continue using plastic?

Question

please see this link.... tell me what you think....

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/04/14/ntm.garbage.island.cnn

Answer 1

Because the environmentalists told us that we should stop using paper grocery bags and start using plastic grocery bags instead.

I assume they were right.

If they were wrong, why should I believe anything they say now?

Answer 2

Plastic when recycled is a miracle material...When it goes to landiflls it doesn't deteriorate and causes problems.  Of course plastic production and recycling are also cause for environmental concern...but better to recycle than trash when it comes to plastic(s).  PEACE!

Answer 3

Because it works better than anything else.

Answer 4

We'd rather harm the fishes than kill some trees. Well, actually, in this time, it doesn't matter. We'll do both.

Answer 5

Here go the tree huggers trying to make themselves feel better again.

XYZ stopped using plastic... sure you did.  It just makes you feel better to say it, even though it isn't close to being true.  Like most liberal ideas, it's emotion.  Logic never enters into the picture.

We use plastic for almost everything.  It has nothing to do with more money for oil companies.  You using it for cooking, cleaning, driving, walking your dog - you name it.  The environmentalists have done more to destroy this country than to save it.  We save fuely by making cars lighter instead of using heavy metals.  Now you don't want plastic.  What is your alternative?  Like every other problem you tell us how horrible we are but have not solutions to fix the problem.

Leave us alone.  The planet is fine.  If we get out of line, it will shake us off like the little fleas we are.

And I would bet that half of you tree huggers are wearing some little symbolic bracelet about global warming, or Earth Day, or something and that bracelet is made of....  PLASTIC!  OMG - Shame on you!

Answer 6

Plastic is very convenient and can serve a multitude of purposes.. That's why we use it.. A better question would be how can we use it more responsibly?  Only buy recyclable plastics and recycle properly.   Or reduce the amount of plastic that you buy/use.  Some plastic bottles can be recycled into fleece material found in clothing.. Or can be made into carpeting... Rubber tires can be ground up and used as artificial turf in playgrounds/schools!  So, I think that we need to use plastics to their full potential and not just throw items away in the trash.. More companies need to rethink the plastics that they use to be recyclable and not emit dangerous gases when exposed to heat!  That's just what I think..

Thanks for the informative link!

*** Notice the man that was doing the piece threw away a plastic water bottle and DID NOT recycle it!  Also,

Answer 7

Because plastic allows you to have conveniences in your life that you otherwise wouldn't.  Your food is kept fresher, longer, without increase in cost.  It allows for medical breakthroughs.  It enables us to do things we otherwise wouldn't.  Just because CNN has some liberal video preaching the evils of plastic, doesn't mean it's that way.  CNN typically likes to sensationalize just about everything.  Yes, plastic does have some drawbacks such as not breaking down quickly, however, it also has many positive features.  I suggest looking at both sides of the issue before making a judgment based on one network's pathetic attempt at news coverage.

Oh, and XYZ, get off your high horse.  You didn't stop using plastics a long time ago.  You may have cut back usage in some areas, but unless your computer is made entirely of metal and wood, you used plastic to type your little sentence there.  And I'm not sure how you get to where you need to go, but I'd be willing to bet you drive a car has a good amount of plastic on it.  It's everywhere.  You use it.  It benefits you.  It's ok.  It doesn't make you a bad person to use something that makes life a little easier.

Answer 8

I'm fine with using plastic, especially if we recycle.

It would be quite difficult to type this message to you using wooden, stone, or metal keyboard keys.

Answer 9

I don't need to see it.

We use plastic because it is convenient, affordable, and can be fine-tuned to serve almost any purpose we need.  It's that simple.

Answer 10

Because it is a by product of oil and ya gatta support those billion dallor oil companys...I stopped using plastic a long time ago..and  we re-use our grocery bags at out co-op..each time five cents go's toward helping the enviroment and the bags are from recycled paper

Answer 11

you have to wonder...out of the 21 million barrels of oil per day that we americans consume, how man barrels are devoted to the synthesis of plastics?