No More Plastic Grocery Bags

[Dan G]

"We all use on dive boats"? There are dive ops still handing out those one-use plastic bottles of water on their boats? WTF is that about? I wouldn't dive with such an op. I prefer the good 'ole big insulated water cooler with a spout on the bottom just like you see on the back of every sizable construction crew's truck or trailer. A bag of purified ice goes in and then it gets filled with purified water. I'd say 90% of the divers on boats that use a cooler bring their own water bottles with them that they refill over and over again throughout their vacation everywhere. Virtually no one ever uses the disposable plastic cups that are available. The reality is a dive op can't offer wax paper cups and cones effectively on their boats because they get wet and the humid/wet environment renders them useless in a day or two.

I'm guessing you won't share the name of the dive op you use that is still handing out plastic water bottles that get 1/4-1/2 drank and then are found laying all over the place in the boat to be thrown away. Tell your dive op to get an insulated water cooler and end the plastic personal bottled water BS or you'll find a new dive op. That sends a STRONG message that just may be heard unless that op caters to a dive clientele that cares less about the environment and prefers to see their selfish/arrogant demands met... God forbid they drink water out of a spout from a common cooler.

I've been on boats that use those cone cups. I've also been on boats that hand out plastic water bottles. It was Blue Project who handed out reusable water bottles with a number on it for us to use through out the week.

Aldora is doing the same thing. WE expect logo cups next week, which our divers can keep, and we have room on the boats for a Gatorade type cooler.

Dave Dillehay
Aldora Divers

Great! Can't wait to use one in August!

Not sure if there is an answer to this different but related note. When I traveled for the first time to Mexico, it was in the mid-80s with my high school. We all did 'home stays' and each of us lived with a Mexican family for a couple of weeks. It has been a while, but I recall that there was filtered water from the tap the family and myself used. Was the water quality better in Mexico 35 years ago? Also, are there locations in Mexico where potable water comes from the tap? Is there any discussion regarding bringing more potable water to more locations in Mexico?

 

[deepsea21]

A lot of guests have the view that water supplied in anything but a single use sealed container is "unhygienic" or "unsafe water"

A piece of masking tape placed on the cooler with 2 words written on it that reads "PURIFIED WATER" is all it takes. Heck, add another word and let it say "SAFE PURIFIED WATER" Why is this so difficult? If a dive customer has a problem with that and drinking the purified water from a cooler let them know that they are welcome to bring all the plastic bottled water with them they wish but they must take those empty bottles with them upon their departure from the boat and dispose of them properly. That is accommodating yet sends the message that this dive op is committed to protecting the environment.

 

[deepsea21]

Sickening? I hadn't been to our local Costco in several months in VA Beach... I went this past weekend and Costco was selling 40 bottles of purified water by the case for $2.49. There were people with regular carts and the flat carts loading that crap up 7-8 cases high. There was a dedicated employee to load carts with these cases of water! It was crazy to see but $2.49 for 40 bottles of water seems to bring on big demand.

 

[DandyDon]

A piece of masking tape placed on the cooler with 2 words written on it that reads "PURIFIED WATER" is all it takes. Heck, add another word and let it say "SAFE PURIFIED WATER" Why is this so difficult? If a dive customer has a problem with that and drinking the purified water from a cooler let them know that they are welcome to bring all the plastic bottled water with them they wish but they must take those empty bottles with them upon their departure from the boat and dispose of them properly. That is accommodating yet sends the message that this dive op is committed to protecting the environment.

Have you ever worked in retail? Anyway, I'd rather bring my own anyway. I'm not the trusting type, and I would wonder about how well the cooler was cleaned each day.

Sickening? I hadn't been to our local Costco in several months in VA Beach... I went this past weekend and Costco was selling 40 bottles of purified water by the case for $2.49. There were people with regular carts and the flat carts loading that crap up 7-8 cases high. There was a dedicated employee to load carts with these cases of water! It was crazy to see but $2.49 for 40 bottles of water seems to bring on big demand.

6¼¢ a bottle does sound cheap. Crew chiefs and others who have to supply water to others do find the sanitized bottles very convenient, and those drinking the water find them safe. I hate single serving, single use bottles, but I think recycling is our best hope.

 

[ReefHound]

Have you ever worked in retail? Anyway, I'd rather bring my own anyway. I'm not the trusting type, and I would wonder about how well the cooler was cleaned each day.

How do you ever eat at a restaurant without getting worried sick?

 

[Bob DBF]

They banned plastic, non-resuable bags in California a few years ago and at this point I usually remember to bring my bags with me to the grocery store.

What's interesting is the single use bags are banned in grocery stores, they are still available at the Home Depot checkout, no charge.


"On November 8, 2016, California voters approved Proposition 67, the statewide Single-Use Carryout Bag Ban.

As a result, SB 270 is in effect and most grocery stores, retail stores with a pharmacy, convenience stores, food marts, and liquor stores will no longer be able to provide single-use plastic carryout bags to their customers. Instead, these stores may provide a reusable grocery bag or recycled paper bag to a customer at the point of sale at a charge of at least 10 cents. Manycities and counties have bag ordinances in place. Some of these jurisdictions’ ordinances will not be subject to this new law, depending on whether they meet certain preemption requirements. Consult your local governmental entity for more information."


Bob

 

[WetInPortland]

No bags at Bodega Aurrerá today. On the other hand, Sam's has very large plastic bags, but they're about $1.7 pesos each.

If the groceries get rid of the plastic produce bags, too, we're going to be in serious trouble for disposing of used cat litter. We also use the plastic grocery bags for food waste, since we don't have a garbage disposer. Our collection/usage just about balances out.

I can see the request on the muling boards: "Yeah, just save all your plastic grocery bags for a month and bring them with you, please?"

 

[DandyDon]

How do you ever eat at a restaurant without getting worried sick?

No problem, but washing is part of their business. And I reserve the right to walk into any kitchen and look if I wish.

 

[DFDubb]

I hate single serving, single use bottles, but I think recycling is our best hope.

Plastics recycling is little more than a "feel good" exercise. It all ends up in a landfill or the ocean.

 

[JamesBon92007]

What's interesting is the single use bags are banned in grocery stores, they are still available at the Home Depot checkout, no charge.
Bob

Yes, that occured to me after I posted. I wonder what the thinking is (by the lawmakers). I'm sure I've seen plenty of Home Depot and Lowe's bags stuck to a chain-link fence along the road. Anyone know if OXXO and 7-11 etc. are exempt in Mexico? I made an unscheduled stop at Soriana yesterday and didn't have my re-usable bags with me so they put as much as possible into one plastic bag and I carried the toilet paper unbagged. I've noticed that I, and others, have refused the offer of a plastic bag from various vendors and just stick it in my (their) backpack or purse or whatever. I've also noticed that I receive many smiles when people see my re-usable bags here on Cozumel.