Jude wrote:

> aem wrote:
> > I was in the neighborhood and needed paper goods so I stopped at the
> > restaurant supply store yesterday. Bulk prices are relatively low and
> > it's always fun to see the food products available in jumbo-sized cans
> > and bags. After loading the cart with paper towels, plates and tp and
> > grabbing a six-pack of clear plastic water tumblers (we don't like to
> > use glass around the pool/patio) I then cruised the refrigerator and
> > freezer cases.
> >
> > You know those 1-ounce foil packets of Philadelphia cream cheese you
> > get with your bagel at the coffee bars? They had 50-unit bags of those
> > for $10.49. Twenty-one cents apiece, a lot less than at the coffee bar
> > but also a lot more expensive than buying 8-ounce bars or tubs. Using
> > cream cheese is a problem for us as it's most often used as part of a
> > munchie and often for only one. It's not unusual for us to have to
> > throw away some of it. I'm only a little guilty about succumbing to
> > the temptation and buying the bag.
>
> Doesn't it bother you to think that you will contribute 50 small sized
> packages to your landfill, instead of 6 cardboard boxes (recyclable)
> and 6 small pieces of foil wrap? The environmental cost of
> overpackagiong is FAR more than any savings you will justify.


Not really. And speaking of facts, US households put out FAR less
wastage than they did a century ago...look it up for yourself.

"Recycling" itself is generally a huge time, money, and resource
waster. There is absolutely no market for recycled glass, paper, or
plastic. There *is* a market for recyclable metals. Aluminum is
recycled because it takes huge amounts of power to smelt aluminum, so
in this case it actually pays to recycle. Scrap steel can be used to
make more products out of steel...and so it's a huge industry.

Recycling is a fun thing to believe in -- as are the Tooth Fairy, Santy
Klaus, and the Easter Bunny. Politically - correct leftist types have
hornswoggled many into believing the mantra of recycling, but without
any hard evidence to back it up. It's not considered "nice" to point
out the folly of much recycling -- just like it's not considered "nice"
to point out a vegetarian who is fat, has a bad complexion, and is
listless largely *because* of their vegetarian diet.


> I can't stand to see how many things come in these tiny disposable
> packages for 'convenience', when instead all they are doing is creating
> huge masses of extra garbage.


Nope, the makers are ensuring that their product is available in
sizes/portions people might want to B - U -Y...they are also ensuring
that the product is easily transportable, shelf - stable, hygienic,
affordable, and safe for folks to buy. And that's largely due to how
the product is *packaged*...

Modern packaging is truly one of the wonders of modern life. If I
dropped even you crank tree - hugger types into a grocery store of 100
or even 75 years ago I guarantee you'd be absolutely appalled at the
general levels of filth and waste...you'd make a beeline RIGHT back to
the world of 2006. You'd even trade in those dreary Birkenstocks for a
snazzy new pair of Mahnolo Blaniks. Count your blessings :-)

--
Best
Greg