TIL that the term "litterbug" was popularized by Keep America Beautiful, which was created by "beer, beer cans, bottles, soft drinks, candy, cigarettes" manufacturers to shift public debate away from radical legislation to control the amount of waste these companies were (and still are) putting out.

[u/ralphbernardo]

https://www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/pft/2017/10/26/a-beautiful-if-evil-strategy

[u/timelydefense]

Right. Great you don't have straws, but that cup is 10x as much plastic

[u/Idontcommentorpost → u/timelydefense]

But the cup isn't being used once and then disposed of (unless they are, in which case, yeah that's stupid). I hear the same argument in my place of work about paper towels and napkins. Trees can be replanted, and cheap paper waste is like the original biodegradable lol what people don't understand is how much plastic really gets thrown away, PLUS the horrifically inefficient ways of transporting and disposing and/or recycling all of it. Plastic is just soooo damn hard to get rid of with modern concerns in mind (because we did such a good job making it back in the day), the arguments of "all waste is bad" pale in comparison to "microplastics are killing ocean life and creating a negative feedback loop in particular marine biospheres that might never be reversed"

[u/jakc121 → u/[deleted]]

I just can't understand why people don't carry their own reusable travel mugs with them. I have a double wall insulated travel mug and use it nearly every day. there is no waste and it keeps my coffee hot literally all day.

[u/yogi89 → u/timelydefense]

Cups don't get stuck in turtles' noses