France to ban all plastic plates, cups, and utensils

[lordsummerisle]

France just passed a law that says all plastic plates, cups, and utensils will be banned by 2020, and replacements will need to be made from biologically sourced materials that can be composted.

The new law follows a total ban on plastic shopping bags in July, and is part of the country’s Energy Transition for Green Growth Act - a plan to make France a world leader in adopting more environmentally friendly practices, and in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

http://www.sciencealert.com/france-just-became-the-first-country-to-ban-all-plastic-plates-cups-and-utensils

[JonathanRackham]

1. Ironically my kitchen is populated with recycled plastic utinsles.

Several large platters from company holiday parties.

[Duppers]

6. You're not alone. I pack up unused plastic take out forks

knives, spoons still neatly packaged back to my favorite restaurants. Makes me feel a bit better.

Waste in this country is horrible but I think China is even worse in terms of packaging.

[JonathanRackham]

7. Chopstick waste

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2013/03/14/chinas-disposable-chopstick-addiction-is-destroying-its-forests/

I don't understand China's attitude on the environment. I even wash and reuse my chopsticks. They can also be used as a wooden dowel substitute, bamboo is stronger than hardwood for this application.

[Duppers]

8. I know. Same here, again.

I cannot understand people's thoughtlessness and willful ignorance (about most everything).

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. I applaud France taking this critical step.

[Warpy]

3. Phooey on this critical step

I have RA and while I find Corelle a better alternative than plastic is, there is little substitute for glasses and refillable soda bottles. They're going to face a fight when it comes to drinking glasses. Better to allow those and fine people who don't recycle them when they're shot.

They're also going to run into trouble from parents and from people who use traveling coffee cups on their commute.

Banning plastic cutlery is a good step except in prisons, although even there the wooden spork would be preferable.

France needs to think this one through a little more carefully.

[Agnosticsherbet]

4. No, we all need to cut our addiction to oil.

I grew up in the 50's and 60's when every thing was glass. We need to re-enginer our civilization.

[Warpy]

5. We had a set of aluminum tumblers.

They were better than glass, also, but much more costly to the environment to produce than plastic.

I'll leave the zealotry about eliminating all petroleum products to the young.

I do wish I could live long enough to see their conversion to wooden computers. I especially want to see wooden peripherals.