404
Tethered plastic caps (lemmy.sdf.org)
submitted 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) by ExtremeDullard@lemmy.sdf.org to c/mildlyinfuriating@lemmy.world

I know they're supposed to be good for the environment. But... Holy smokes they drive me up the wall. They really do!

I had no trouble adapting when aluminum can pull-tabs got replaced by push-tabs, because it was pretty much the same movement, and I could see the immediate advantage of not getting cut by a pull-tab.

But the tethered cap is fighting decades of muscle memory in me: I'm used to taking the cap off with one hand and keeping it there while taking a swig with the other. Now I unscrew the cap with one hand, but I still have to hold the cap so it's out of the way. It feels like drinking in handcuffs each and every time...

So unlike the pull-tab, the tethered plastic bottle cap is one of those compulsory eco solutions that constantly make you feel ever-so-slightly more miserable all the time, and I hate that because ecology only works when it brings something of value both to people and to the environment.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] Crampon@lemmy.world 74 points 8 months ago

I'm so fucking tired.

It's estimated the fishing industry is losing around 400 metric tonnes of fishing gear into Norwegian waters every year.

Now we are punished for this by attaching the stupid caps to the bottles. Why are we not able to fix problems in this society hellbent for self destruction?

Why are every problem pushed down on the working class just wanting to enjoy a soda in this capitalistic hellscape.

[-] nis@feddit.dk 52 points 8 months ago

Attaching the caps to the bottles fixes a problem.

The lost fishing gear is another problem.

Fixing one will not fix the other. Fixing one helps. Fixing both helps more.

[-] Crampon@lemmy.world 38 points 8 months ago

So. In Norway we have this great system for returning used bottles for cash. We get 0.2$ for a 0.5 liter bottle. People are returning the bottle with the cap on. Seeing bottle caps laying around isn't a thing.

Instead of attaching the cap to the bottle. Make a return system for the bottles. People are not systematically seperating the bottle and the cap as the cap keeps the sugary residue left inside the bottle in place instead of in the bag you carry them with to the store for returning them for that sweet cash.

Attaching the cap is a solution looking for a problem.

Having travelled a lot around in Europe I have never seen bottle caps laying the street alone. People throw them together or not at all.

This is bureaucracy time spent on caps instead of actual problems. So they could focus on actual issues instead of this shit. It's a testament to how they blame every issue on random people instead of the industries inventing new ways to fuck up any ecosystem.

[-] Holyhandgrenade@lemmy.world 26 points 8 months ago

This is classic greenwashing. It's the smallest possible gesture a soda company can make to show that they "care about the environment" while not making any actual change to be more eco-friendly.
Same thing with those awful paper straws. Are you really asking me to believe that a massive burger chain can neutralize their footprint by giving you a straw that turns soggy in minutes? The straws were never the real problem, but it's the smallest possible step they can take to seem eco-friendly.

[-] nis@feddit.dk 4 points 8 months ago

Yes. Deposits for recyclable bottles also fixes a problem. Seems like we are fixing problems all over the place :)

[-] EssentialCoffee@midwest.social 2 points 8 months ago

We also have that in Michigan. You still see bottles and cans places. Historically, there have a lot of 'reward programs' that incentivised keeping bottle caps separate (either from the company or occasionally locally for reasons). I also distinctly remember it being advertised that bottle needed to be capless for recycling, so we always removed the caps and tossed them. Only recently have I seen verbiage on bottles requesting them to be recycled with caps on, which I usually forget to do because it's habit to toss the caps.

[-] Crampon@lemmy.world 0 points 8 months ago

Cool. The more you know.

Funny how there are such different practices.

[-] Raxiel@lemmy.world -1 points 8 months ago

They might not get discarded separately, but do they get recycled separately?
I always loosen caps when throwing them in the green bin so the bottles will compress more easily. Others might just throw them in separately or they might even pop off once compacted.
I don't know how much of a problem having them separated might be (I'm just wondering out loud) but I could see how keeping things together and not having lots of small fiddly bits in mixed loads prior to sorting could be beneficial.
Sounds like it doesn't take much contamination for recycling companies to redirect whole loads to landfill, so it it helps there it's good I guess?

[-] Krauerking@lemy.lol 6 points 8 months ago

But.... Squeeze the air out of the bottle and twist the cap back on and it suddenly stays more compressed. Literally sealing the vacuum and the sugar. And the caps are generally the same plastic material.

The issue with recyclers sending batches to landfill is that they are a for profit company so if no one is buy the materials or it's more costly to process than the final product then it's just tossed. We avoided that by sending it all wholesale to other countries who realized that it was also cheaper to use raw materials. And they didn't want our unsorted garbage labeled as recyclables.

This is mostly unnecessary and like swapping to new straw manufacturing or thicker plastic bags to be "reusable" actually more detrimental in the short term or not beneficial in a meaningful way.

[-] Cosmicomical@lemmy.world 17 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Why do i have he impression that problems only get solved if the solution doesn't damage a specific class of people?

[-] Maggoty@lemmy.world 12 points 8 months ago

You know what would fix that problem? Not using plastic. It doesn't actually get recycled no matter what doodad they attach to it.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 3 points 8 months ago

Wouldn't it be amazing if there was some easily-recyclable material that humans have been using since Ancient Rome at least that they used to mass-produce drinks in all the time but don't anymore?

[-] nis@feddit.dk 2 points 8 months ago

Another fix for the problem! Lets do them all! Every bit counts :)

[-] The_wild_card@lemmy.today 3 points 8 months ago

Exactly i feel like people are becoming too weiny and easily irritated maybe because of the decline of quality in life due to capitalism ?

[-] noobnarski@feddit.de 10 points 8 months ago

Its the same with the paper straws while disposable electronic cigarettes are still allowed, which not only contain plastics, but also electronics and a rechargeable lithium cell.

All the while a reusable vape works just as well, while paper straws just suck and they even contain plastic as well.

[-] settoloki@lemmy.one 3 points 8 months ago

I mean you can also get reusable metal straws the same as a reusable vape.

[-] Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 8 months ago

I like the pasta straws as a concept, stays solid AND something will eat it when disposed of. Win win!

[-] noobnarski@feddit.de 1 points 8 months ago

I think that little piece of plastic doesnt really make a huge impact, its not a lot of plastic and we have so many other places where we could guide manufacturers to include less plastic in packaging.

Its much more energy intensive to produce a disposable vape, they contain more plastic, the battery has to be produced and its unlikely they end up in electronics recycling, where they belong.

[-] ColeSloth@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 8 months ago

I haven't experienced these bottles since I'm in the US, but by that picture; are they not easy to just rip off so it's normal again?

[-] Crampon@lemmy.world 1 points 8 months ago

Fairly easy to rip off. But they sometimes leave some sharp pieces of plastic poking your lips. Also it's annoying.

Would probably be better if the tether was longer.

[-] intensely_human@lemm.ee -3 points 8 months ago

An industry coordinating to make tethered caps isn’t a result of “capitalism” in any way at all.

At some point you gotta recognize capitalism is a catch-all boogeyman to you, not a real thing.

this post was submitted on 07 Mar 2024
404 points (87.4% liked)

Mildly Infuriating

35455 readers
178 users here now

Home to all things "Mildly Infuriating" Not infuriating, not enraging. Mildly Infuriating. All posts should reflect that.

I want my day mildly ruined, not completely ruined. Please remember to refrain from reposting old content. If you post a post from reddit it is good practice to include a link and credit the OP. I'm not about stealing content!

It's just good to get something in this website for casual viewing whilst refreshing original content is added overtime.


Rules:

1. Be Respectful


Refrain from using harmful language pertaining to a protected characteristic: e.g. race, gender, sexuality, disability or religion.

Refrain from being argumentative when responding or commenting to posts/replies. Personal attacks are not welcome here.

...


2. No Illegal Content


Content that violates the law. Any post/comment found to be in breach of common law will be removed and given to the authorities if required.

That means: -No promoting violence/threats against any individuals

-No CSA content or Revenge Porn

-No sharing private/personal information (Doxxing)

...


3. No Spam


Posting the same post, no matter the intent is against the rules.

-If you have posted content, please refrain from re-posting said content within this community.

-Do not spam posts with intent to harass, annoy, bully, advertise, scam or harm this community.

-No posting Scams/Advertisements/Phishing Links/IP Grabbers

-No Bots, Bots will be banned from the community.

...


4. No Porn/ExplicitContent


-Do not post explicit content. Lemmy.World is not the instance for NSFW content.

-Do not post Gore or Shock Content.

...


5. No Enciting Harassment,Brigading, Doxxing or Witch Hunts


-Do not Brigade other Communities

-No calls to action against other communities/users within Lemmy or outside of Lemmy.

-No Witch Hunts against users/communities.

-No content that harasses members within or outside of the community.

...


6. NSFW should be behind NSFW tags.


-Content that is NSFW should be behind NSFW tags.

-Content that might be distressing should be kept behind NSFW tags.

...


7. Content should match the theme of this community.


-Content should be Mildly infuriating.

-At this time we permit content that is infuriating until an infuriating community is made available.

...


8. Reposting of Reddit content is permitted, try to credit the OC.


-Please consider crediting the OC when reposting content. A name of the user or a link to the original post is sufficient.

...

...


Also check out:

Partnered Communities:

1.Lemmy Review

2.Lemmy Be Wholesome

3.Lemmy Shitpost

4.No Stupid Questions

5.You Should Know

6.Credible Defense


Reach out to LillianVS for inclusion on the sidebar.

All communities included on the sidebar are to be made in compliance with the instance rules.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS