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CurlySteve

Listed below are comments made by CurlySteve between Thursday, 28th August 2008 and Thursday, 4th September 2008.

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Beefed up 10:45am on 04 Sep 2008 #16 - AdeJones

I'm just re-reading this thread (for interest's sake more than anything).

One question: can't they just pump the methane from AD back into the gas supply rather than use it for electricity?
The last post 9:54pm on 03 Sep 2008 Congratulations again Chris.

The picture says it all!

Thanks again for letting us all share/discuss/argue our views, it's been a fascinating month.
Top tips from plastic-free bloggers 4:04pm on 03 Sep 2008 #53

Landfill yes, but if thrown away as litter the plastic will last a lot longer.

#50 Loreav - that's a very good point. Not just thrown away either, could end up in the ocean.

Follow this train of events:

I recycle a plastic bottle.

A certain percentage is used for lower-grade plastic.

This plastic is used to wrap food.

The food is sold to a developing nation without decent landfill or recycling facilities.

The plastic is discarded and ends up in the ocean.
Top tips from plastic-free bloggers 09:45am on 03 Sep 2008 #48

True, but plastic stays around a lot longer than paper. I don't know how long, but if these links are to be believed paper takes about 2-4 weeks to decompose, plastic 10-1000 years (not sure anyone knows exactly how long it takes).

http://www.slate.com/id/2169287/nav/fix/

http://www.thatdanny.com/2008/06/06/how-long-does-it-take-a-plastic-bag-or-a-glass-bottle-to-decompose/

Assuming a mid point of 100 years, that's 1300 times longer than paper. In other words, during the lifetime of 1 plastic bag you can discard 1300 paper ones.

(Didn't know this blog was still open to comments - great that it is :))
Top tips from plastic-free bloggers 1:29pm on 02 Sep 2008 #43

It does strike me as being a bit odd to transport 50,000 tonnes of rubbish each year 80 miles across country. It's a shame - the dispersed energy solution you describe sounds much better. I expect there's also less electricity wastage on the grid as it's local.

The LA did mention in their literature that landfill would run out in 2012, so that's obviously their primary motivation - shift it elsewhere. They're also introducing green bins (at a cost) for garden waste to be composted on local farms (though not for kitchen waste for which they're advocating home composting - that rules out AD for now).

Does CHP require new builds or can it be installed in an existing location? i.e. do you foresee new housing estates/industrial estates being supplied with heat/power from small local CHPs?

Just out of interest, what happens in summer when no heat is required?
Top tips from plastic-free bloggers 11:24pm on 01 Sep 2008 #39 AdeJones

Thanks for the info. Yes it does look mind-boggingly complex!

It's easy to get the feeling with media hype, etc. that plastic is the enemy and that all is doom and gloom, but reading the posts on this blog over the last month has revealed a lot more going on behind the scenes. I'm more hopeful about my waste than I was in July, and also determined to make an effort to cut some out (plastic or paper or whatever, just try not to acquire it - easier said than done).

Good news where I live (Wiltshire). Hot off the kerbside collection they began earlier in the year, they're going to add plastic (types 1-3) later this year, so I won't need to drive it to the supermarket. And the Local Authority has just signed a contract to ship most of its waste to Slough for EFW.

You mentioned an EFW plant - is this essentially the same as CHP?

I prefer the jute bags as they have cushioned handles :) (plastic ones tend to dig in).

Thanks again for your informative posts.
Top tips from plastic-free bloggers 11:04pm on 01 Sep 2008 #38

Maybe because it made the front page of the BBC news website today:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7591751.stm

Chris has summed it all up nicely and even the wooden toothbrush gets a mention. :)

I could tempt fate and throw in another potential plastic avoider - a rubber toothbrush! But I won't.

It has been quiet today. Where has everyone gone? And where will we go now for our blog addiction? :(
Top tips from plastic-free bloggers 10:07am on 01 Sep 2008 #31 idontmuchbut

'..The subject of plastic bag vs. paper bag has already been debated, at some length. 'Environmentally' (from a carbon perspective) plastic bags win, every time...'

I'm not sure this question was resolved satisfactorily. This was shown to be true where the plastic bag is recycled, but what about the following cases:

1 - Plastic Bag is used for energy (from waste)
2 - Plastic Bag is simply thrown onto a landfill site

Assume in both cases that the paper alternative is recycled or composted.

I'd like to know the answer as it will affect my shopping habits! :)
Top tips from plastic-free bloggers 4:01pm on 31 Aug 2008 Chris,

It's 31st August.

It's 4 o'clock.

You have just 8 hours left.

Congratulations!!! It's a monumental achievement.
Aisle be there 11:38am on 28 Aug 2008 #65 Peter_Sym

Yeah you're right, that would be boring (not to mention carrots which are not my particular favourite :-D).

We get most of our veg from Riverford Norton and, where possible, they grow or source it locally. If not they tend to ship it in from the EU (usually France, Netherlands or Spain), their aim being to minimise food miles while still retaining interesting and seasonal food.

On an unrelated topic, it's somewhat difficult to get a point of view across on this notice board without some sort of emotion coming through in the text, so I apologise to anyone if I've been coming across as agressive or negative - I don't mean to be and that's not my intention.

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