Reasons why New York Sucks

[Churchill W]

I don't live in NY, but I'm going to guess that while you may consistently re-use the plastic bags, it's a big over-generalization to say that happens consistently across the population. Certainly in other places I'm familiar with, they are frequently thrown away. If you don't have a dog, their second-use utility is pretty limited. I literally don't know anyone who uses them as "kitchen bags". They're the wrong size to be a bin liner, and the size, lack of opacity, and lack of seal/closure makes them pretty much useless for kitchen food storage.

In his defense, our household uses them regularly as trash bags also and they fit in our tiny NYC kitchen trash can and compactor chute relatively well. I've also wondered what we're going to do for trash bags when we don't have the grocery bags. I guess we'll be buying them in the future, but maybe the ones we'll buy will have less of an environmental impact.

 

[lawyerdad]

In his defense, our household uses them regularly as trash bags also and they fit in our tiny NYC kitchen trash can and compactor chute relatively well. I've also wondered what we're going to do for trash bags when we don't have the grocery bags. I guess we'll be buying them in the future, but maybe the ones we'll buy will have less of an environmental impact.

Ah, I didn't think about the trash chute thing - fair point. It's been a long time since I lived in a place with one of those.

 

[erictheobscure]

here in philly we collect plastic bags and burn them to make bonfires for off-season eagles tailgate / heroin parties

 

[Numbernine]

Homeless folk seem to like them to organize their "stuff" in the shopping cart.

 

[Rumpelstiltskin]

If you don't have a dog, their second-use utility is pretty limited. I literally don't know anyone who uses them as "kitchen bags"

In my defense I live alone and only generate a small amount of trash

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Ah, I didn't think about the trash chute thing - fair point. It's been a long time since I lived in a place with one of those.

It is a very NYC centric thing. I don't know anybody that doesn't use these bags for garbage bags. A local supermarket switched to paper like 2 years ago in prep for this stupid law and their was outrage because people just had to buy plastic bags. They promptly switched back.

I don't want to sound like a poo poo on the environment. I use LEDs, hell I even compost, but this is stupid for NYC and how people use these bags.

 

[clee1982]

I don't know how it's going to get implemented, but in Taiwan it's implemented as you need "special trash bag" (otherwise you get fine) and those special trash bag is cost + additional tax, in general the whole trash collection/recycle is done much better in Taiwan vs US regardless state (and that was a place that did zero recycle when I was a kid). Point being, somehow I felt american (on the consumer side) hasn't moved in terms of recycle (especially in north east) for like 20 years while everyone else try to do better...

 

[patrickBOOTH]

I've been to the Taoyuan Airport many times. Spotless! Must be doing something right.

 

[clee1982]

I don't know about other cities in Taiwan, but in Taipei it's implemented in such a pain in the butt way that I don't think it's possible in the US (parts of it can, but not in all)

in Taipei, there is no large trash container, and they purpose remove a large number of trash cans. In general they enforce a "no trash on the ground" policy, trash are only collected in designated time (three times a week) within a ~5 minute window (you have garbage truck drive around).

trash bag needs to go to designated trash bag that you purchase (which has additional tax on it), recycle needs to be separate into eatable (food left over to feed pigs what not...), not eatable but can be used as fertilizer (bones for example), plastic, paper, metal. So generally speaking you need to freeze all your left over food in freezer before the collection day. Enforcement is checked on the spot, so no single streamline recycle you have to go to the respective station within that 5 minutes when the garbage truck come to your neighborhood

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Years ago they tried to help reduce garbage in the subway. What did they do? Got rid of the garbage cans on the platforms thinking people would hold onto their garbage rather than throwing it on the floor or the tracks. What a concept that was.

We need certain punishments that they enforce in other parts of the world. You're seen littering, you get a finger cut off. The City would be spotless. Bad subway etiquette get a baton to the knee. It would be glorious.

 

[clee1982]

that's what they actually did in Taiwan (remove garbage cans on platform, though in the case of Taipei they just reduced garbage cans everywhere in general), though it did work..., I don't know if you should blame more tourist in NYC or whatever other reason is...

 

[clee1982]

I mean that's also probably with a lot education and public shaming...

 

[lawyerdad]

I mean that's also probably with a lot education and public shaming...

Public shaming is vastly under-appreciated.

 

[clee1982]

though I felt american is more individualistic, probably take more "social pressure" to work with the same tactics, especially nyc, thicker skin...

 

[ericgereghty]

Years ago they tried to help reduce garbage in the subway. What did they do? Got rid of the garbage cans on the platforms thinking people would hold onto their garbage rather than throwing it on the floor or the tracks. What a concept that was.

We need certain punishments that they enforce in other parts of the world. You're seen littering, you get a finger cut off. The City would be spotless. Bad subway etiquette get a baton to the knee. It would be glorious.

Fully endorse the maiming platform.