People more concerned about doing their washing quickly than the environment.

[Starryskiesinthesky]

AIBU to think it is totally depressing that people arent willing to make even small changes to try and stop the environmental crisis that is here. For example, not wanting to use an eco programme on machines because it takes longer, not prepared to dry clothes outside rather than use a dryer, driving everywhere rather than walking. If people who could, made small changes, it would all add up and we might be able to halt some of the damage we are doing to the environment and childrens futures.

@Feelslikealot

Do you have children? If so, congrats. You've already cancelled out any environmental benefit you might get from using eco cycles on your washing machine.

I came on to say this!

Plus it makes fuck all difference when huge countries like India and China are doing what they are going

My quick wash is 20 or 30 degrees less than 30 minutes the eco wash is the same temperature just three hours longer im genuinely not sure what makes it eco

@sst1234

Hey if you want to lecture, go ahead and lecture yourself. Before you do though, consider that UK accounts for less than 1% of global carbon emissions. Perhaps lecture the Chinese or American if you want actual results. If not, then you just want to virtue signal.

And our population is about 0.8% of the world’s population, so we are responsible for more than our fair share of carbon emissions. China has huge emissions because it’s a big country.

It's really easy to tie yourself up in knots with it. Is it better to keep a car longer to save manufacturing materials and outputs or buy a new one as its more fuel and emissions friendly?

Recycling is all well and good and we are pretty good at doing it in our house. 4 weekly collection and general waste wheelie bin is not full. But we could be doing stuff to have less recycling. Am I better having a few cans of drink rather than a big bottle? I don't know really. Probably better just drinking water to be fair.

@Squiblet

So much hostility and "stfu" on this thread ... it makes me think that maybe what we need is a change in the way we think about the issue. So that altering our habitual way of life comes to be seen not as a big sacrifice, but as a positive thing.

Like the way they try to shift people's thinking when they're trying to quit smoking, so that skipping a fag break is not "oh poor me I've lost out on a smoke", but "well done me I've boosted my own health by doing that - I've benefited".

How would it be if, every time someone considered a holiday abroad and then decided to take the train to a local holiday destination instead, they didn't see it as a sacrifice, but as something positive? Like you've banked some money in your Earth-health-deposit account?

And of course people can use their tumble-dryers when they need to, and they shouldn't beat themselves up about it ... but if there does happen to be a hot day and you can line-dry, give yourself a thumbs up?

Well said.

Lol this idea that caring about public health (a clean environment is imperative to public health) is the new project fear is ridiculous. When I asked by local MP to reduce air pollution (which is at illegal levels in my city) because I was worried about my baby’s health I was told that I was threatening an apocalypse and to not scare drivers. They are removing bus and cycle lanes where I live and council is actively doing everything it can not to increase health and well-being ad they would prefer to prioritise the economy. Our city is really going to loose our in terms of growth over the coming decade as it is not prioritising green investment and infrastructure

I think it's fair to want people to be more sensibile and mindful with energy and water waste...
I an trying to cut consumption also to reduce my bills
I am reusing towels and beddings as much as i can. Honestly beddings stay up for several weeks. I reuse my clothes as much as i can.
Biggest impacts are DC...my toddler is so dirty at the end of the day there is no way i can reuse any part of his outfit.
I run low temperature cycle with eco settings, i set it up the night before and let it run overnight so that it's ready when I wake up. I try to dry clothes outside as much as i can, but if it s too humid, cold or rainy i use the dryer for half of the loads (other half is dryed at room temperature in the basament, but it takes up to 4 days!!!!)

How are we supposed to use Economy 7 tariffs if we don't put the washing machine on overnight?

Is a 4 hour eco cycle better than 1 hour at 30C?

IT's not about getting the washing done quicker, its about getting the washing done.

During the summer of 2020 when my workplace was closed I could use slower eco cycles and line dry clothes because I was at home to do it/the weather was good. I could do 2-3 loads a day.

Now I have to get my washing done in the evenings and sundays and line drying anything in this weather is impossible.

Yanbu OP but you’ll get pasted on here because on every environmental thread it feels like most posters aren’t prepared to even slightly change their behaviour for the environment, it’s all whataboutery and no taking responsibility for one’s own carbon footprint. Incredibly depressing.

Its all very well blaming China but those saying that ought to be shopping closer to home! No more Primark or cheap Amazon & Ebay goods, no new toys made in China..

Some of us have already changed our behaviour. With me, it was through being skint (not using drier) and I’ve kept that up as much as I can.

I’m not going to go out and buy a new car when the one I have is perfectly fine. Surely that is bad for the environment? A whole new car that I didn’t need?

I guess people who can afford to buy lots and lots of clothes have time to dry things on airers in their house. I buy much smaller amounts of clothes and they a pair of trousers for example will last me at least 5 years if I don't put weight on.

@Skyla2005

Because we know that using a different cycle on our washing machine is gonna do diddly squat difference when you have the massive countries like India chucking bottles in the rivers and not giving one shit about the environment what we do here is irrelevant we are tiny in comparison that's the reality of it

Tbh we have people like that here as well who don't even attempt to recycle or reuse😡

We have five cars between us, fly a few times every year (can't wait to be able to start again) and use a tumble dryer. We also eat meat a few times a month and I don't recycle everything I could. But we don't have children. So our carbon footprint is likely lower than anyone's with kids. There. We've done our bit by not procreating. Try and flame me.

I don't have always have the option to use the eco setting.
My husband only has a handful of uniforms for work, they get extremely dirty so he has to have a clean pair daily- I live in a block of flats, so no option to hang outside, and no room for a tumble dryer. If his clothes need washing and drying within 24 hours, they have to be washed quickly. I don't have two hours+ to wait, otherwise they won't be dry in time.

@InTheNameOfAllThatIsHonest

We have five cars between us, fly a few times every year (can't wait to be able to start again) and use a tumble dryer. We also eat meat a few times a month and I don't recycle everything I could. But we don't have children. So our carbon footprint is likely lower than anyone's with kids. There. We've done our bit by not procreating. Try and flame me.

Why aren't you recycling anything though?

Very few people realise that the planet is seriously overpopulated

I seriously doubt that.

I hate these ridiculously long wash cycles. Great if you have nothing to do and all day to do it in. It is also the reason why people have their washing machines on overnight disturbing òthers. I have cared about the environment long before people like Greta and some folks on here were born and yes, I cannot stand being lectured to by people who have no idea who I am or anything about how I live my life. Send Greta, the idiots on the M25 and all the rest of the 'experts' to Russia, India, China and all the other real offenders destroying the planet. Always easy to pick an easy target. The UK and most people I know recycle and have other things in place to do good for the planet. Most people are trying their best. All people like Greta and the protestors achieve is turning people OFF. I have yet to hear one constructive idea from,any of them as to how to better this situation. Where are all THEIR great ideas ? I am a grown adult who is sick of being treated like I know nothing.

@sst1234

Hey if you want to lecture, go ahead and lecture yourself. Before you do though, consider that UK accounts for less than 1% of global carbon emissions. Perhaps lecture the Chinese or American if you want actual results. If not, then you just want to virtue signal.

This ^, some people in the UK are very proud of small actions they are taking, which have a negligible impact on the environment.

All of our actions make very little difference- sure avoid having kids, don't fly and become vegan if you want to make a difference but don't lecture people on this.

I don't know. Who cares? Very few people realise that the planet is seriously overpopulated and pointed remarks by some people about reusable coffee cups and eco cycles on washing machines when they have produced 3 more consumers (and all clad in disposable nappies for 3 years each) is frankly hypocritical

I'm still of the opinion that each adult human gets a x tonnes of carbon allowance per year. Have a kid and you've used up 5 years worth in one go so no flights, limited energy use, limited car use in that time while the child free get airplane travel, car use etc

Fine. As long as single child-free people do their bit by shacking up in multi-generational homes to prevent the huge amount of house-building required due to people living on their own, and before any mass climate emergency events arrive, give up any state pension and benefits as there aren't enough people paying tax to pay for them.

We've done our bit by not procreating. Try and flame me.

Sorry but I think that is very wrong headed. Being child free doesn’t give you the unlimited right to pollute as much as possible in your lifetime. We should all be minding our own personal carbon footprint, without deducting or adding in the carbon foot print of any descendants because some of us have to have children or there will be no more humans. Humans are still a part of the planet and ecosystem.

The world population growth is slowing and is projected to stop and has a good chance of declining over the next century due simply due to expanding women’s reproductive rights and contraception. (As in not based on any “to be invented” technology). So it’s not as big a threat as it used to be.

They key is we need everyone alive to live their lives as lightly on the planet as they can given their circumstances.

What I think would really help is if we could be told exactly what we do have to give up - all of us equally, not the rich flying everywhere for exotic holidays and the plebs not being allowed to.

We need a vision of a low/zero carbon future. As if it means living in caves/mud huts, hunting and gathering and women doing a load of washing in a river by hand I'd rather be dead.

The world population growth is slowing and is projected to stop and has a good chance of declining over the next century due simply due to expanding women’s reproductive rights and contraception. (As in not based on any “to be invented” technology). So it’s not as big a threat as it used to be

Exactly. The birth rate in loads of countries is one point something - well below replacement levels.

Australia emits more carbon than USA, I only mention this as it never crosses anyones mind. I only found out recently. It's interesting that Morrison isn't bothering to attend COP26 either.

The UK is in current times, a minnow in emissions, however being one of the main legacy countries, in that we essentially gifted the world the issue with the industrial revolution (if it wasn't us, of course it would have been someone else), we have to try to persuade those that are still developing not to follow our path. It's very tricky.

The other current insanity is that India and China both have "bys' for being "developing" nations. Their allowable limits therefore being higher than ours. Again a legacy issue.