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Comment by sheepdestroyer | Hacker News Reader

Disposable plastic bags have been banned from super markets in many countries. The same could be done for plastic bottles.

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I think it's pretty well accepted at this point that this is an unsustainable trend. I'm not sure why glass isn't used more as an alternative, I'd assume cost and convenience. But it might be more expensive for us not to make the switch in the long run

Sadly glass costs more, is more breakable and is quite heavy relative to its contents and therefore leads to higher CO2 emissions.

Glass is also theoretically close-loop recyclable but it's again cumbersome and expensive. It's usually downcycled into building materials.

My local area has even stopped recycling glass citing costs.

Mine as well, which surprised me since I thought that glass (probably separated by colour) was one of, if not the only, material that was less costly to recycle than make from scratch.

I'm already skeptical of the overall impact of recycling in general; I feel as though it makes people feel like they're helping the environment while turning attention away from the mass polluters. I'm definitely cynical, but I'd really like to be proven wrong on that last point.

Sterilize-and-reuse programs for glass bottles are excellent, but they are rare. In theory melting down used glass for inclusion in new glass production is an energy win, but it seems to be rarely used in practice. About the best most glass "recycling" seems to do is mix crushed glass into gravel and paving materials.

Disposible bags were banned from stores in california, they were replaced by significantly heavier bags made of the same plastic but thicker. Now many stores have pandemic signs “no reusable bags”.

So the outcome of banning disposable bags is a whole lot of extra plastic being disposed.

I live in California and the reality is that most people bring bags with them rather than paying for the reusable ones every time, which was the objective of the law. Safeway and other supermarkets banned reusable bags briefly at the start of the pandemic but they've allowed them for months now.

Since I grew up in a state where you got free plastic bags, and went to college in another such state, it took some adjustment. But it's not really that hard - pretty soon you just remember to bring a bag when you're shopping, in the same way that you might remember to bring your wallet.

>they've allowed them for months now.

It's very hit or miss. When I go to Ralph's by me during the day, they say no reusable bags. When I go at night they're fine with it. My Trader Joe's only allows reusable bags if you bag the groceries yourself; the employees aren't supposed to touch them

It is like the other commenter said, hit or miss. More importantly, sanitizing trumps rules. It is simply a bad idea in a pandemic to carry around and re-use plastic bags. Lowering the surface area of potential contact is important.

What are you gonna use instead?

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