# We should go back to glass and metal containers
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 15, 2024, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329 "2024-04-15T18:04:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/81 "2024-04-26T13:22:23Z")
I go for the landfill solution. It’s where so much of it ends up anyway.
How about burning plastic to produce energy? Is it true that plastics burn cleanly at 2000° or higher? We’re burning coal and oil anyway, might as well get more use from the oil we turned into plastic.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/82 "2024-04-26T13:26:15Z")
I like the idea of leaving the plastic intact in landfills, just in case it’s desirable in the future.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [April 26, 2024, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/83 "2024-04-26T18:39:18Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> I don’t buy soda very often but when I do, I buy it in 20 ounce plastic bottles so I can drink some and then cap it for later, so I’d like to see it in those aluminum bottles I see water and beer sold in.
That’s my take, also. I’ll crack open a half-liter soda in the beginning of the work day, and sip it all day long. A can would a) go flat faster, and b) be much more of a spill risk. Same thing with car trips. I rarely finish the bottle, but of course the smaller bottles are more money, and waste, per ounce.
Glass or aluminum would be better in terms of waste.
When I’m not working or driving, I keep a couple of larger bottles of it on the dining table (one caffeinated, one not). I’ll get a glass, fill it with ice, and pour whatever I want. I usually drink more liquid that way, too.
Does anyone know whether bottle-deposit laws make a significant difference in the amount of waste? I think both Vermont and New York have such laws, but I’ve rarely bothered when travelling there. For Vermont, since we’re usually driving, I’ll usually bring the bottles home and recycle them here.
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2024, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/84 "2024-04-29T00:46:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> OTOH, I have dreams of a covid strain that makes males sterile
That’s many men’s Nirvana state: all the sex and none of the noisy consequences or clingy Moms.
I’ve aged into the era of “no babies” sex on both sides and it’s a dream come true.
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### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [April 29, 2024, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/85 "2024-04-29T18:42:02Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> I am pretty certain civilization would break down if that occured. OTOH, I have dreams of a covid strain that makes males sterile.
Well, there would be short-ish (a generation or two) impact to the economy etc. if the population started decreasing drastically, as the economy tends to need some population growth.
But then in a generation or two, the world would be a MUCH better place.
Re the COVID / sterility: Either people would become a LOT more diligent re vaccines and masks, or it would be Darwin in action.
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### Author:  [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2024, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/86 "2024-04-30T19:03:55Z")
The Ottawa talks on reducing plastic pollution have ended without producing a clear result.
That’s a shame - it’s clearly going to take an international effort , but agreement is difficult to come by!
News story here - [Problem of plastic pollution far from solved as Ottawa talks wrap up | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/climate/plastic-waste-summit-ottawa-1.7188050)
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### Author:  [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)
#### Post date: [April 30, 2024, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/87 "2024-04-30T19:08:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> > [@Beckdawrek](#):
> >
> > I’m starting to worry more about fabric pollution.
>
> A lot of recycled fabric is used in the Red Cross, etc blankets.
I don’t believe that’s true any more. New fleece is only slightly more expensive to buy, and much lighter, so it’s cheaper to ship. And it works better as a blanket, especially if it gets wet.
> [@LSLGuy](#):
>
> > [@DrDeth](#):
> >
> > OTOH, I have dreams of a covid strain that makes males sterile
>
> That’s many men’s Nirvana state: all the sex and none of the noisy consequences or clingy Moms.
>
> I’ve aged into the era of “no babies” sex on both sides and it’s a dream come true.
You know there’s affordable outpatient surgery that does that for men…
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### Author:  [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2024, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/88 "2024-05-01T01:56:48Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> You know there’s affordable outpatient surgery that does that for men…
I had mine done a bit over 30 years ago.
The nice part now is that once the women I’m interested in age out past the “sex = baby-maybe” stage they get a lot more willing to experiment. I was _always_ so willing; them (understandably) not so much.
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [May 1, 2024, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-should-go-back-to-glass-and-metal-containers/1000329/89 "2024-05-01T03:50:09Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#):
>
> You know there’s affordable outpatient surgery that does that for men…
Sadly it is voluntary . With my plan those morons who refused the vaccine wouldnt be able to pass on their moron DNA to the next generation.
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