Comments on: Day 105: Packaging Snobbery

By: Layla

Layla — Tue, 19 May 2009 17:12:33 +0000

Great post!

I’ve often wondered what to do in a supermarket too?

Still, the supermarket is probably not the best place to ‘nag’ (or inspire!) – if people are in a hurry or shop frenzy, they may react negatively..
maybe it’s better in the private atmosphere of home etc. (or online.. )

I did nag & inspire people at home, now trying to inspire relatives a bit (it’s not easy & kinda slow..)
still trying to figure out how to speak to neighbours or strangers thinking of writing a series of articles for local newspaper! if they’ll have ‘em!

Another idea is to give gifts of green products – like Morsbags – for birthday or Christmas or such?
or have a get-together with neighbours to make Morsebags?! (that should teach ‘em, eh?! )

By: Jen CleanBin

Jen CleanBin — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:29:17 +0000

Thanks for the info Mairi. I have definitely heard of EPR, and I’m pretty excited about the possibility of our current systems be extended to other products. It’s true, once you take organics and most packaging out of the garbage can, you’re not left with much! In Toronto they can even put diapers through the compost pick up which I find amazing.

By: Mairi

Mairi — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 17:40:01 +0000

Have you ever heard about ‘extended producer reposnibility?’

Here at the Recycling Council we are promoting the idea that all consumer products and their associated packaging should be managed cradle-to-cradle by the manufacturer and that it should be paid for, not by all taxpayers as is the current situation with municipal recycling programs, but solely by the producer and the user.

We already have EPR for such items as tires, paint, pop bottles and consumer electronics, where you pay a small fee at the time of purchase that helps fund a recycling program for the product at the end of its life.

We happen to think that packaging belongs in an EPR as well, and plastic bags would definitely be part of that.

Check out the provincial government’s web page for more information on existsing EPR programs:
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/epd/recycling/

One thought to leave you with: If you look in the average kitchen garbage can you will find organics and packaging. A curbside kitchen organics pick up program for the lower mianland will be up and running within the next couple of years. Imagine if we had a take back program for packaging. Our residential garbage output would be slashed to almost nothing!

By: Dirk

Dirk — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 19:23:31 +0000

Lead by example is a great motto, and can certainly say you are doing your part there.

By: Jen CleanBin

Jen CleanBin — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 02:24:52 +0000

You’re probably right that people wouldn’t take that kindly to having me try to tell them to ditch the plastic bags. That’s probably why I have never said anything in public. They say it’s better to lead through actions and not through words and that people only change on their own terms, and I think both are true.

That said, I think people like hearing new ideas if they don’t think people are just trying to change them. That’s how knowledge is spread around the world.
Thanks for the thought-prevoking comments.

By: Dirk

Dirk — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 02:40:17 +0000

I would not suggest making suggestions to people. I would not react well to them being made to me, and you might not either. I appreciate the concept, but no one want to go through life hearing suggestions, however politely offered, on their driving habits, food choices, exercise routine, grammar, personal hygiene, or plastic usage. You can try it, but my guess is that you will receive nothing but dirty looks, and alter no ones behavior.