I’m not sure that it’s fair to say, but sometimes I feel like we desis are much less likely to worry about things like global warming, energy conservation, recycling etc, etc.
I just wanted to bring to everyone’s attention the magnitude of the plastics and waste issue. Have a look at this:
5 Gyres – Understanding Plastic Pollution Through Exploration, Education, and Action
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
I have to disagree about recycling. Everyone I know is pretty dedicated to recycling to the extent that most families have two separate bins inside their home to make sure people do not throw recyclables into the trash bin.
Also where I’m from you will almost always see at least one desi person in line whenever you pass a recycling center (even if they have other reasons for recycling…they still are!) 
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
^ that’s great Guac!!!
I wish the same was the case here.
We definitely have two separate bins…but that’s cuz its law in our city and the potential to be heavily fined for not recycling is a big deterrent. And yes the younger generation is quite aware.
I just wish more conscious effort was put into their actions…
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
guac is a fluffyhaired hippie - they have mandatory recycling and composting laws in san francisco - every single home and business is supposed to recycle and compost their waste.
desis in their own countries do a great job of recycling - everything from newspaper to plastic and metal waste is worth money and is sold, scavenged out of trash piles, reused - there is a lively economy that thrives on this in every town and even village in most of the non-western world. this use and throw culture of excess is not to be blamed on desis one bit.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
This Ramadan we’ve started a huge recycling initiative at the masjid…after Iftar/Dinner people always ask “koinsay bin main pehnkoo?!” 
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Commitment to “Pait” comes way before commitment to “Plastic”
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
as “desi” learn to talk about recycling so you wont stand out as dirty race.
as “desi” nothing you could do can reverse the problem.
Walaities, still need to make money, so planet has to take toll .
In general stop caring. and be happy 
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
When Mr. Monk gives up on the environment, we are all in trouble.
We use only cloth bags. Any plastic bag gets reused. In grocery stores we don’t take the plastic bags for vegetables. Just keep refusing old ones. Do not use Round up weed killer.
One vice - still get newspaper. Out here they wrap it in plastic. So we recycle those.
Typically the more Right the state is less it cares. Where we are it is very much Right. Our subdivision thanked a resident for volunteering to put 25 gallons of Roundup along the roadside where an odd weed or two may rear its head. Attempts to point out the negatives fell on deaf ears. “Need more time for conclusive results about this chemical” it seems.
Thought it may be hard to believe I didn’t argue. Will provide peer reviewed material on Roundup negatives one article at a time. Deep breath. Baby steps.
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
you’re right queer…desis do a great job in their own countries. there’s absolutely no doubt about that.
unfortunately the same cannot be said for desis abroad.
again, I’m not suggesting that this is the norm but there definitely is a trend…
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Went to Barnes and Noble and bought a gift card. The person at counter - 60ish male- started putting it in plastic. I gently stated - no plastic needed. Why waste it, right?
He shot back - why not?
That does capture the mentality of some - mostly on the Right of the spectrum.
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Some folks just don’t get it…
Some think that there are much greater problems that we should focus on…
Some believe that there are so many offenders that their actions will not make a difference…
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
^ went on a trip recentl. It was very hot. One of attendees says - “I turned on ac in room to 20 deg C when I left theroom in the morning. So it will be nice and cool when I get back.”
This was in a country where folks do their part. Room gets light etc only if room electronic key in holder. ( great concept). But since heating cooling not linked to this, the person turned on ac FULL BLAST. While leaving the temperature inside comfortable for room cleaning folks to do their job would be considerate, this was all about How can I be most confortable, scraw the environment.
Re: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch
Was reading the Sunday NY Times at a local coffee shop- a good Samaritan had left it after reading.
Goldman Sachs owns a metal storage company Metro International (name?). Prior to this acquisition, wait time for Aluminum metal was 6 weeks. Now it is 16 months!! Result? Artificial constaint in supply. Resulting in higher cost. Cost to the consumers eestimated at billions of dollars.
To prevent hoarding over long time, there is a toothless regulation that requires warehouses to store 1.5 million tons for less than a set period. So everyday trucks move 3000 tons from warehouse A to B. And from B to A. Thus meeting the letter of the law. Adds to unnecessary fuel consumption.
If the Madam President/OP would be so kind to allow a non-plastic related environmental news to be included in this thread, would be highly obliged.