Did you or do you still cut these up?
Posted by badannbad@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 373 comments
I clearly remember asking my mom why she was cutting these up one day? And (almost in tears) she told me how the birds get stuck in them then choke and die. Ever since I have always cut them up. I wonder if people still do this…
DangDinosaur1@reddit
When i was ten and lived in Hawaii, I found the body of an immense sea turtle that had been choked out by one of these things and it was AWFUL. I cut them up every time
badannbad@reddit (OP)
That’s horrible!
kindahng@reddit
I still do always.
Much-Meringue-7467@reddit
It's very rare that I have them, but yes, I cut them.
Funkopedia@reddit
Actually haven't seen one in years. 12 packs come in cardboard boxes and the occasional 6 pack of beer I get has those hard disk covers.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
I got a coupon for mini cokes and they came in a six pack with this. Otherwise I too haven’t seen one for years.
doubleUdoubleUthree@reddit
Mini cokes taste better than the 12 oz ones. Nobody can convince me otherwise.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
I feel this way about canned coke in general. Hate the plastic bottle ones- flat in minutes.
doubleUdoubleUthree@reddit
Obviously glass is best, with fountain drinks coming in a close second.
handsomeape95@reddit
Same. I've more or less switched over to Zevia and they come in cardboard boxes.
StaceyPfan@reddit
It must depend on where you live. I get six packs with these all the time.
Bart_1980@reddit
Same here, really a thing from my childhood. Cardboard is the standard in the Netherlands.
BloodyRightToe@reddit
No
arglebargle17@reddit
I prove how strong I am by pulling them apart
notathrowaway1267@reddit
Still cut them up.
In 5th grade, we had an 'Invention fair', and I invented a 6-pack ring cutter. It was the size of a shoebox. You placed the 6-pack ring in it, closed the cover, pressed down, and a dozen blades cut it up.
It was not actually functional as my parents wouldn't let me put blades in it.
My partner loves this story, and every time we have to cut one, we sigh and groan about how much work it is and how someone should invent something to make it easier!
(Now as an adult with very limited counter space...how silly for a large uni-task item!)
badannbad@reddit (OP)
I appreciate the idea!
SoberDWTX@reddit
I cut them up everytime… I saw the same picture everyone else saw. A turtle with a six pack ring stuck around their outer shell. The plastic ring was so tight it warped the shell to it shape.
msheehan418@reddit
Do you cut the small ones in the middle
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Any hole! Chop to bits!
msheehan418@reddit
Yes!!!!
_deleteded_@reddit
These things have been banned in every developed country since the 1990s.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
I’m in the US 😣
_deleteded_@reddit
Exactly 😉
ThisNameIsTakenTwo@reddit
I cut all the loops.
Also I crush/cut my yoplait yogurt cups so nothing gets their head stuck in them.
I also put tin lids in a hard container so dump dogs don’t cut their tongues.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Just out here saving everybody!
zenprime-morpheus@reddit
They still make these?
badannbad@reddit (OP)
For mini cokes at least.
RadicalHops@reddit
I do… but thinking about it now I realize this was probably just a way to make us feel like we could actually do something.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Yah some folks are saying then they are just small enough for fish to eat. Who knows 🤷♀️
Annhl8rX@reddit
Every time. Apparently at least some people are still teaching kids about it, because my daughter was very proud of me the first time she saw me doing it.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Oh that’s good to hear!
burner_duh@reddit
Yes, I do. All loops severed.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
No hole left behind!
Erik500red@reddit
Do they still sell 6-pks with those on them?
badannbad@reddit (OP)
At least of mini cokes- it was free with a coupon. Otherwise I buy 12 packs.
greenerbeansheen@reddit
Oh yeah. I just tear em up, usually while muttering about turtles. Some gen z chick told me “I like your style” after I did it once. I felt pretty gangster.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
blacksewerdog@reddit
For the birds.(Ontario)seen a duck with one stuck around head .Doing it ever since
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Aww poor guy!
P-a-n-a-m-a-m-a@reddit
Yep.
Once rescued a chipmunk whose head got stuck in the domed lid of a slurpee cup and was running around stuck in the cup crashing into everything. Now I reduce risk of wildlife injury or death every chance I can.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Aww poor thing!
m0h3k4n@reddit
The hard cap plastic ones that come with my beers now a days also have little gaps for little heads to get stuck. I even cut those apart. Not on my watch!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
👊
Living-Fix-5626@reddit
Yep. I cut them up every time. My kids wonder why. These are wild animal killers!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
be_loved_freak@reddit
My ecology teacher in hs did his job TOO well. 30 years later I'm still cutting them.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Haha like my mom.
Green-Arachnid-9331@reddit
Always cut them up.
goglamere@reddit
Still do, every time.
Fun-Literature8992@reddit
I've got a pair of scissors on the microwave right next to the trash just for this
Fistofpaper@reddit
What do you use to cut food with then? A knife like some barbarian?
Fun-Literature8992@reddit
Cut food....? Wait, do you not just swallow everything whole like a snake?!
Fistofpaper@reddit
Fair
Rare_Paramedic7531@reddit
I actually came across a Canada Goose with its teeth wrapped up in one with fishing line too kayaking. Lots of hissing and bites later she was free
idiotsbydesign@reddit
Wow. I consider myself an animal lover but I'd rather remove a hook from a gators mouth than mess with a goose...
Fistofpaper@reddit
I know right? That's some next level animal love.
Rare_Paramedic7531@reddit
Ya she wasn’t the friendliest. Those feet have some sharp nails for sure. She followed my kayak for a while but if I looked at her she hissed. It was like a thank you but we are not friends 😆
goglamere@reddit
Thank you for your service 🩷
Rare_Paramedic7531@reddit
Always thought the pop ring thing was just something exaggerated growing up like pop rocks and soda or quicksand everywhere. It was sad to see it and turned out good but was also like damn that does really happen
dragonbornsqrl@reddit
For the turtles!
MaddyKet@reddit
goglamere@reddit
Sharon_Erclam@reddit
Well yeah, I'm not a monster.
msheehan418@reddit
Right! I’m not a sociopath
Dubyew@reddit
Literal lives depend on it.
redit01@reddit
Still cutting them long ways for easy disposal
muhredditone@reddit
I think about that every time I see someone post a picture of one they've cut. That should be 3 cuts...but they just cut them individually and I can't understand why. Also, if they aren't cutting up their other trash then it's kind of hard to see it as a genuine effort to save anything. Let's have a look at the rest of your trash, bud. lol
Emannuelle-in-space@reddit
Yeah I can’t not. I rip them though, it’s fun.
National_Side_4938@reddit
OMG YES!🙌🏻
OldManThumbs@reddit
I don't think I've seen one in years.
Surfer_Sandman@reddit
Yes every time
Scherzkeks@reddit
Yes.
Upbeat_Bet_6708@reddit
You think I’m some kind of dolphin killer?
GlomBastic@reddit
Meanwhile, thousands of miles of nylon fishing nets, ropes, and wire are dumped into the ocean every year. But yeah I still do.
Shatterstar23@reddit
Of course!
ThoughtPhysical7457@reddit
Hell yes. As small as possible. That campaign was very successful.
The-Ex-Human@reddit
I just chuck them straight in the ocean
TheVexingRose@reddit
That or I save them for camping trips to make dragon tears with. My kids always get a kick out of that.
Glass-Marionberry321@reddit
I get a little pile going from my son's pediasure. Then I sit at the table and have a cut session.
truecrimeaddicted@reddit
Yes, of course. Pro tip: paper shredder.
ForsakenAlliance@reddit
Always
FoppyDidNothingWrong@reddit
The fish have to fight to survive.
summerlea1@reddit
Don’t know many folks who do not cut these up, thankfully.
FeelTheWrath79@reddit
I haven’t bought soda that has these.
jer1303@reddit
Every. Time.
RachelPalmer79@reddit
Still. Always.✂️
Technical-Weekend598@reddit
What kind of heathen did not see happy feet?
Dark_Tint@reddit
I do, every time. As a matter of fact I just cut one up last week, it came from a 6 pack of Powerade.
RaphaelSolo@reddit
Depends many of the come with a perforated pull tap that makes all the rings easy to snap.
Pleasant-Ticket3217@reddit
Yeah. They can’t be recycled. I take scissors and just cut them when get them.
Icy_Hippo@reddit
Still do it, but also rare to find them around cans and stuff anymore where I am.
Actually anything plastic in a ring shape I cut to protect the birds lol, even those clothes tag thingies.
Illustrious_Sky9596@reddit
I do, because of this guy!!!
Rolenalong@reddit
Test of strength!!!
TrustAffectionate966@reddit
Yes, it helps make the plastic be bite-size for birds, fish, and turtles to swallow.
katastrophyx@reddit
I rarely buy 6-packs of anything anymore, but when I do, I absolutely cut them up every time.
Ill_Athlete_7979@reddit
Recently I was cutting one of these up and cutting them into small pieces. My brother in law was next to me and said “bro you’re just cutting them up into small bite size pieces for the fish.” 😩
gabbobbag@reddit
The trick is you have to cut each loop while still maintaining one pice piece.
Cozmo525@reddit
This guy cuts! I always strategically cut to keep in one piece as well.
msheehan418@reddit
You have to cut the tiny loops in the middle too
m0h3k4n@reddit
Yeah the fish want fettuccini not bow tie pasta.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Oh shit- new worry forming.
Exciting_Squirrel_84@reddit
It's inevitable that it'll get that small. Nobody wins with plastic 😭
NeonC918@reddit
This never was a thought in my mind until now!
Moist_Rule9623@reddit
I was cutting up several of them just this weekend, even though they should get shredded as part of plastic recycling
altavek@reddit
BrilliantArtistic213@reddit
😌
red286@reddit
I never drink anything that comes in these, so... no.
bennnn42@reddit
Yep every time.
hiredreject@reddit
Still do and teaching my staff to do so also.
TwistingEcho@reddit
This is what we have in Australia.
FKFnz@reddit
Over the ditch we just have cardboard sleeves usually. Zero plastic.
FidgitForgotHisL-P@reddit
Every so often a post like this reminds me how far ahead of seemingly many countries we’ve gotten on getting rid of unnecessary single use plastic in NZ.
Can rings? Plastic straws? Plastic bags for your shopping? Wild!
FKFnz@reddit
The can rings one is especially baffling to me. For something that can be so easily replaced by cardboard, why are they still using shitty old plastic?
thetwelveofsix@reddit
The answer is always $. Plastic is cheaper than cardboard.
FidgitForgotHisL-P@reddit
To be fair, who amongst us hasn’t picked up a 6 pack of Macs Gold only have to have one of the cans fall out the back, land awkwardly in the edge of the supermarket chiller and get a tiny split and then spray beer everywhere?
And then what do you do? If I grab it and point that little hole at a safe space where it won’t make a big mess (my mouth), I’m technically shoplifting beer, drinking in an off licence, and also being a weirdo. But the other option is make a big mess for the supermarket worker to have to clean up when all they want to do on a quiet Sunday morning is slowly restock shelves as they nurse last nights hangover - the last thing they want to do is smell more beer right now!
But yeah everyone else that actually packs their cans properly in cardboard, that’s obviously the way to go.
Also how weird is it seeing plastic bags in American tv shows. So retro!
TwistingEcho@reddit
These are going away for high density cardboard more and more now too.
FKFnz@reddit
Like this? https://www.liquorland.co.nz/shop/beer/speights-6-pack-cans-440ml
TwistingEcho@reddit
Had those for decades now too. My back seats full of them as energy drinks use them also.
twirlerina024@reddit
Haven't seen these in the US yet but looking forward to it!
Transplanted_Cactus@reddit
Some of the beer I buy has these, mostly the local brews (I'm in the states). They're kinda hard to get off the can and I don't really understand what issue they were supposed to solve tbh.
DrMcJedi@reddit
They’re more durable, reusable, and less likely to lose cans to spillage/breakage in transit. Here in Wisconsin almost everything is in these or cardboard now….particularly beer.
twirlerina024@reddit
Reusable for what, though? I haven't seen any place that collects them.
DrMcJedi@reddit
Some of the local breweries wash/reuse them. Liquor store here in Madison uses them for the “build your own 6 pack”.
twirlerina024@reddit
Nice! I mostly get beer at the corner store but I’ll have to check the next time I’m at an actual brewery. I feel bad just throwing them out, you can’t even recycle them here.
fumbs@reddit
These are for more expensive items.
Nomadic_View@reddit
We have those in America too. But it’s typically on beer instead of sodas.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
This is probably a really stupid question but do they screw off? American here.
ShillinTheVillain@reddit
We have these in America too. A lot of beer companies use them
de_propjoe@reddit
We have these in the US too. I usually see them on craft beers, not sure if they show up elsewhere.
TwistingEcho@reddit
Naw, just pop off.
carryon4threedays@reddit
It takes just a little bit more force to pull these off than the softer clear ones. They do pull off though. You’ll see them more often on craft beer brands in the States.
Jupiter_quasar@reddit
That's pretty neat
aliencardboard@reddit
Still cut them up.
ofTHEbattle@reddit
I rarely even buy anything that has those on it anymore. When I do though, yes I cut every stop that's connected to make a hole.
dankskent@reddit
Every. Time. Ain’t no turtles dying in my watch
whereisbeezy@reddit
Every time!
TotallyRadDude1981@reddit
Used to. But don’t any more. But then I don’t buy cans held together by those things.
Leather-Sky8583@reddit
Still cut up if we even get them.
PersianCatLover419@reddit
Yes
ophaus@reddit
I haven't had one of these in my possession in at least 20 years.
GigiBerlin82@reddit
100%
love_is_an_action@reddit
With no exceptions. Though I seldom see them these days.
g3ckoNJ@reddit
I just did yesterday. I'm saving all the wildlife.
LittleLarryY@reddit
Yes. And even the little holes.
fetal_genocide@reddit
Always
RTMSner@reddit
Yes.
Battleaxe1959@reddit
You bet. I grew up in SoCal. When I moved to the Midwest, no one cut them and they looked at me like I had two heads because I did cut them.
_Face@reddit
I don't buy products that come in those.
Allrojin@reddit
Theyre biodegradable in my area now. I'm freeeee!!!!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Niiiiice!
Robosl0b@reddit
Yes
Cael_NaMaor@reddit
Did.
Don't see them anymore, but would if I did.
LlewellynSinclair@reddit
Still do. Have taught my kids to do so too whenever we get them.
Evabythewater@reddit
I do cut them up when I come across them. I'm glad to see more companies move to the cardboard ones but they do fall apart a bit too easy.
When I was a kid, I found a garter snake entwined in an onion net bag. It had tried to get out but the thin strands of plastic embedded under the snake's scales and cut him up a bit. I had a pocket knife and did my best to free him without causing more damage.
A lady saw what I was doing and said something to the tune of that I must be under the influence of satan if I'm helping a snake. Who says that to a 10 year old kid?
Anyways, I roll up my onion and avocado bags and tape them up so mo critters can get caught in them.
Elenakalis@reddit
I see you know my old neighbor. She accused me of being in league with the devil for liking my red fire truck. I was 3.
I moved up north and I don't miss the "well meaning" things my Christian neighbors would say.
Letsbeclear1987@reddit
Haha no hate quite like the love of christ huh
valdus@reddit
Same people who said Dungeons & Dragons was Satanist.
PowderedToastBro@reddit
You must have lived somewhere in the Southeast… assuming USA.
xiixhegwgc@reddit
Basically exurban USA anywhere. There are pockets of this even in states like Massachusetts and NJ
PowderedToastBro@reddit
Damn, I guess there is no getting away from it. It sounded like something my grandmother would say.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
How kind of you and that woman was nuts!
Letsbeclear1987@reddit
Up the middle except the very last bit and down the bigger outter rings from the top so it stays in one long piece
Engineer443@reddit
Still? Hell, I just started
Autumn_Forest_Mist@reddit
Yes I still cut them
verticalsidewall@reddit
100% still do—even the little ones in the middle. Honestly, I kinda enjoy it!
Mata187@reddit
Yes! Every single time!
Pitiful-Body-780@reddit
I haven’t purchased a 6-pack of anything in a long time, so no.
General_Departure583@reddit
Still do cut them up
MusicApprehensive394@reddit
Yes
BeansontheMoon@reddit
Yes. A squirrel got wrapped up in one and I couldn’t deal. Why do these even exist anymore?! Single use cans and bottles gotta stop entirely
firehawk2324@reddit
Yes, animals always get their heads stuck in them. In my area, the Ravens and eagles are most susceptible.
Embarrassed_Wall_963@reddit
Cut them every single time
SpicyBreakfastTomato@reddit
Just cut up a batch of them this morning. Taught my 6yo how to do it too!
JoRhino1982@reddit
Yes always .
jesusmansuperpowers@reddit
I live in Colorado. If mine make it to the ocean from here then so be it.
Sometimes
Crans10@reddit
Everytime ,yes
muhredditone@reddit
People still do it but I haven't bought one myself in years. I probably would if I bought one, though.
superschaap81@reddit
I did up until last year, or the year before. Our provincial government has banned all plastic holders, bags and single use cutlery/straws. So now all soda/canned spirits and beer come in cardboard sleeves or cardboard six pack holders (Not so great).
Hanksta2@reddit
I cut the shit out of them.
BigPoppaDubDub@reddit
If I have to look in more than 1 spot for scissors I’m not doing it. I’m adamantly opposed to being made feel like we’re the problem with pollution and responsible for the health of wildlife while a company dumps toxic waste into a river and pays a nominal fee. Even if every individual made an effort to do these things 100% of the time, I doubt that would any real improvement because some massive corporation is spewing fumes into the air with no consequence.
Philhughes_85@reddit
Every single time
Scrapla@reddit
Yea I still do. I grew up near the beach and use to release sea turtles with my school as a kid. We were very aware of the havoc these can cause.
Sneaky_Snack_333@reddit
You have to! For the sea turtlessss
Glendale0839@reddit
I drink cans of soda but they come loose in a cardboard box. Haven't had these plastic rings in 10+ years.
alesplin@reddit
I cut them so it’s still all one piece but no closed loops.
Klaus-Heisler@reddit
Every single time
NickelCitySaint@reddit
Did..don't see them anymore but when I did I cut em up
Eledridan@reddit
Still do it for the turtles.
SinisterDetection@reddit
I'm not a monster, so yes
Wasting-tim3@reddit
I don’t see these often, but when I do I still cut them up.
RobotCaptainEngage@reddit
Now I'm just thinking about Lil' Lisa's Seafood Slurry.
A spoonful or Slurry will cure what ails ya'!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Several people have brought this up and I have no idea who she is!
RobotCaptainEngage@reddit
https://youtu.be/J-QeTbmchvQ?si=u16HzF7rsR1ghNI0
airlew@reddit
I still cut. There are some products at Costco that still come with those.
fumbs@reddit
I absolutely do. I even collect them while walking my dog and cut up some random stranger's trash.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
silverwarbler@reddit
Always
MommyDrinks@reddit
Yes
CountryKick@reddit
Don't see those very often anymore, but I still cut those up due to trash pandas and stray cats
Zerostar39@reddit
I do! I’m not gonna be responsible for it getting stuck on a suck or turtle.
DrMcJedi@reddit
Haha, I can still see that awful sea turtle image burned into my brain…
Zerostar39@reddit
It was a very effective PSA
buckut@reddit
i rarely get them anymore, but i cut up every hole when i do.
Barrettbuilt@reddit
I’ve been saving them to make a tuna safe dolphin net…
Stripes-McGillicuddy@reddit
At least 50 sea turtles are still alive because of me.
hammyburgler@reddit
Of course. Who else will save the dolphins and sea turtles if we do not?
KitchenNazi@reddit
I just realized I haven’t seen one in ages. The hard plastic connectors on some alcohol else everything is in cardboard boxes.
JayRay_44@reddit
Of course. I can’t help but think of poor dolphins and turtles and other sea creatures getting caught up in them. (I think our generation was raised with a good deal of environmental awareness beat into our heads- especially in the 90’s. Seemed like everything was about the environment. So that stuff sticks with you.)
Schmuck1138@reddit
Sometimes, but they usually come perforated, so when I'm removing the bottles, I just pull along the perforation and it effectively cuts the rings while releasing the bottle. That being said, I only go through maybe 3 of them a year, I rarely drink soda anymore.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Oh really, I've never come across one like that.
Schmuck1138@reddit
My wife likes the occasional 7up, but in the small bottles. Usually two of the corners have an arrow punched in to the plastic, pointing towards the perforations.
yayoffbalance@reddit
Of course! I'm not a monster!
_ism_@reddit
Yes because my cat loves to play with them. Yes he's Orange
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Those orange ones man. Just trouble!
Holmes221bBSt@reddit
Always have, always will
PapaG_13@reddit
💯
Remytron83@reddit
I haven’t bought anything with these in years. I’d still cut them though.
DrMcJedi@reddit
I haven’t seen cans in these in a long time…just those plastic snap on lid holders or boxes. But yeah, I cut up the bottle ones…I still remember that sea turtle picture they showed us as kids…
often_awkward@reddit
Of course I save the turtles! Even the gigantic snapping turtle that visits my pool every other year or so. She and I have developed an understanding. She crawls on the snow shovel and then waits to be put back in the river.
But yeah, my wife and I both cut those things up. Actually our teenage children do too and say they are saving the turtles. They're probably mocking us but it's fine, the turtles are saved.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Even though he/she is snappy that is cool! Glad the kids are carrying it on!
often_awkward@reddit
There's no downside to her being a snapper it's just we have to be courteous of each other. Behind the house is across the street is a marsh that goes to a river and she is always very happy for the ride in the wheelbarrow back across the street.
The little ones aren't as big of a problem. I can usually just get them in the pool skimmer net and take them back home.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
You sound like a kind person. ☺️
often_awkward@reddit
Thanks! I do my best. I'm mostly robot.
LooksLikeAWookie@reddit
Seagulls are safe in Colorado
badannbad@reddit (OP)
AWorkOfArts@reddit
Absolutely still do; have taught my two daughters to do so as well!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Passing it on!
Baronessss@reddit
Rarely see these but always snip them. Gotta keep those ducks safe. 🙂↔️❤️
SometimesILieToo@reddit
These are now made to be destroyed by sunlight. Interesting when you realize that when you see an animal trapped in one of these the plastic ring is very likely decades old.
Outrageous-Advice384@reddit
I was just thinking of this the other day. I still cut everything up, even bag handles.
My dog got into a reusable grocery bag somehow the other day and I heard banging around. Checked and she was caught up in the handles. This just backed up what I was doing. All bags get cut or tied before disposing. Anything that an animal can get caught up in- even paper bag handles. PSAs work!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Same happened to my dog. He rustled out wearing the bag like a skirt!
unbreakablekango@reddit
I'm like Edward Scissorhands with those things. I will be snipping them to bits until my fingers are too feeble to manage.
KietTheBun@reddit
I buy sparkling water that comes in those. I wouldn’t buy them if they weren’t so much less expensive than all the others and I’m a broke dude. I cut them up.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
I get it- fellow broke person.
greenhornblue@reddit
I don’t even buy them.
threyon@reddit
Newer ones have perforations so you can remove one can at a time without stretching the whole thing. Older designs, I break out the scissors.
RosyClearwater@reddit
We buy our soda in 12 pack boxes. We don’t get those anymore.
Difficult_Cupcake764@reddit
Yes
ailish@reddit
I do. But I don't see them often.
B4SSF4C3@reddit
Don’t buy them to begin with.
Three4Anonimity@reddit
I used to cut 6-pack rings up. I still do, but I used to, too.
friskyburlington@reddit
For the sea turtles.
Aeriila@reddit
Just did 10 minutes ago actually lol
jsusbidud@reddit
They are long gone in the UK. All card now.
I'm shocked at how much plastic is still used in the US. Went McDonald's in Florida last summer and everything was plastic still. Kind of undermines what the UK is doing.
ONROSREPUS@reddit
Use to but we no longer buy 6 packs of anything with these on anymore.
BackgroundPrompt3111@reddit
Haven't had one of these in over a decade, but yes, I absolutely would cut it if I had one.
irish_faithful@reddit
Always. I don't want some poor animal to die a horrible death because I'm too lazy to cut a piece of plastic.
XennialQueen@reddit
Yes. I’ve seen this type of post many times. Genuine question- other than it not being a thing anymore where some people live, why would anyone stop? I hate that it’s still in use in the US, but I never throw it away without cutting even the smallest loop. But, is there a reason not too? Is it just futile (I recognize that plastic is horrible for the environment, regardless)
Transplanted_Cactus@reddit
How would plastic rings added to a landfill in the desert, hundreds of miles from an ocean, end up harming ocean life? I've seen others mention ducks. What ducks? The handful that live at the big pond 30 miles away? I would have to intentionally seek out a duck. I haven't seen a duck in three years. The trash from my town goes into a big pit and gets dirt bulldozed on top of it pretty quickly.
And frankly I assume the whole campaign was as full of exaggeration as the plastic straws one. Yet more "make the public look this way so they don't see the real culprit behind them."
Fishing nets do 100x more harm to ocean life than any of our trash does.
XennialQueen@reddit
Yeah, so- I was never taught harming ocean life, because it was assumed this would end up in a landfill, so it was about birds and small animals
Transplanted_Cactus@reddit
I just remember the campaign with the sea turtles.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Well I apologize for the redundant post then. I was mainly wondering if this was a usual habit for people. One person said that it doesn't make it to the ocean, rather a landfill so they don't bother. It may be futile but it's a just in case for us.
XennialQueen@reddit
I was taught that it would end up in a landfill, not the ocean, so it was about protecting birds and small animals
Affectionate-You-142@reddit
Yes!
Ok-Kangaroo4613@reddit
I cut apart all trash/recycling that has any similar enclosed thing. Even the small ring after opening a cardboard carton!
No_Meaning_4831@reddit
I have and always will cut those things up.
uniquecleverusername@reddit
The Burn's Omni Nets!? No, you stitch them together and use them to make Lil' Lisa's Patented Animal Slurry.
xjohnkdoex@reddit
Still but rarely buy cans with these. I still think of you my ocean friends
CalgaryChris77@reddit
I haven't seen one of those in at least 15 years, but yes I used to cut them up.
tivvybrixx@reddit
Yes and yes
eulynn34@reddit
I always cut these up
NMViking@reddit
100% of them get cut in our house.
gabbobbag@reddit
Of course I do, I’m not a monster. Gotta keep those sea turtles safe.
The trick is, you have to cut each loop but maintain the plastic as one big piece. I’m pretty sure I learned how in elementary school in Florida.
RuncibleFoon@reddit
Every. Single. Time.
Practical_Reindeer23@reddit
Save the ducks, cut the rings
Nomadic_View@reddit
Yes
childofeye@reddit
We all saw the video of that duck, i would hope so.
Legitimate-Produce-1@reddit
I don't buy 6 packs.
SJSsarah@reddit
Still do, even if supposedly these are now made of materials that are supposed to decompose quickly. I just can’t get the image of strangling sea animals out of my head.
cdiddy579@reddit
Every time
M0ntgomatron@reddit
Don't see them anymore
naswege@reddit
When I find them cut I glue them back together. You’re all welcome
ImNotReallyHereAmI79@reddit
Always always do this. Don’t want no poor creature getting stuck.
JohnnyWeapon@reddit
I saw a picture of a turtle that had gotten into one while young and grown into it… its shell was deformed and it stuck with me.
I still cut them up every time.
mountednoble99@reddit
I usually buy my sodas in the 12 pack boxes now.
slademccoy47@reddit
I don't buy cans that still have the plastic rings. It's either the 12 pack box of cans, or the 6 pack bottles that come in the cardboard top.
Jarvis-Savoni@reddit
Always. Save wildlife!
neonphotograph@reddit
Yep, every time. In Girl Scouts, we were told fish get stuck in them not birds. But, it's probably both.
Slippery-Pete76@reddit
I did cut them up, yes. I don't drink soda or beer anymore, so I don't have the opportunity to cut them up anymore.
Cardboard_Robot@reddit
Always cut them up.
Hot-Broccoli-2654@reddit
Anything for the sea turtles!
builderjer@reddit
I cut those and squish the tin cans "so animals don't get their head stuck in them"
Exciting_Squirrel_84@reddit
I cut everything "circular" before putting in the garbage. For example, bags, elastics, carton spouts.
Jdojcmm@reddit
Always.
djdiphenhydramine@reddit
I think the last time I saw one of those was around 2020, when I was still drinking, and I'd buy six packs of PBR. Since getting sober, I haven't seen a single one of those!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Congrats on the sobriety! I too got sober but it was mainly because I lost the taste for alcohol in general.
djdiphenhydramine@reddit
Aw thanks! Right back at ya. I wish that had been my reason, honestly!!
mlm_24@reddit
Yep
spderweb@reddit
Even the little holes.
Though we haven't bought anything with them for a while.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Yep me too. Any hole is cut.
Sestos@reddit
I did when, well I pulled them into pieces back in the day. Not seen them used in years.
0sqs@reddit
I don't even remember the last time I saw a 6 pack of cans.
Joedirthair@reddit
Of course! Why, do they come apart on their own now?
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Some just said that they have ones that do. Just pull them apart I guess.
Joedirthair@reddit
I have a hard time with those perforated ones 😬 so I’ll just keep cutting. I was thinking I’d missed that they’d become biodegradable or something!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Oh no but that would be awesome!
nightgoat85@reddit
Every time.
BreakfastBeerz@reddit
I never cut them up, but I also can't remember the last time I've seen one.
Horizontal_Bob@reddit
I dont see them often but I do if I find them
YoGrizzly@reddit
I don’t have them often. But yes, I still cut them every time.
ProfessorOfLies@reddit
I don't buy soda in packs of 6 anymore at all
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Yah it was a coupon freebie so neither do I.
rollem@reddit
It always reminds me of Little Lisa's recycling plant: https://youtu.be/J-QeTbmchvQ?si=Zxb-_3Ww-2ynT2dD
TheMatt561@reddit
I live in South Florida, you bet your ass I do
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Florida man!
FoolishDog1117@reddit
For Peanut the turtle.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
I had to google that one. I never heard of Peanut. As of 2015, Peanut was still alive.
ArchSchnitz@reddit
I cut them up. Every time my wife sees me do it, and knows exactly why.
I like turtles.
Dramatic-Vegetable13@reddit
Yep. Save the Ducks
Justin_Sideme@reddit
Yup, just did it yesterday 😂
Elethuir@reddit
Yes all the tome
MexicanVanilla22@reddit
...for the great majority of the developed world, our trash does not end up in the ocean. Even most of the things we performatively put in recycling bins ends up in the landfill. So no, I don't bother cutting them up.
Thanks_Obama@reddit
The majority of the developed world hasn’t had these for decades.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Your comment reminds me of my friend’s story about stopping recycling. She would do her part- separate things in the proper bins but she was watching the garbage man one day and he put both bins in the same truck. So one day she asks him what he was doing?! She said why am I recycling if you are just putting it with the trash anyway? He didn’t really know what to say so he said it gets separated at some point later. Um how? So while she lived there she stopped bothering.
MexicanVanilla22@reddit
Yeah. Like at Target and Costco they have those trash cans that separate the trash from compost and recycling....just drive around the back of the store...see any recycling dumpsters? Might have big bales of cardboard from the compactor but only standard trash dumpsters are back there.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
BeardiusMaximus7@reddit
Every single time.
My kids go through little bottles of Gatorade and apple juice and the like, which all use a version of these rings, and every time, I cut them up before disposing.
BinocularDisparity@reddit
As I’ve gotten older, I can’t even remember the last time I bought a product that had this… but yeah, I cut it
Isaac1867@reddit
These have been banned where I am so I don't really see them anymore, however I always used to cut them up before putting them in the garbage back in the day.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Where are you?
Isaac1867@reddit
I'm in Canada. The government here passed a law a few years ago banning a whole bunch of single use plastic products including these rings.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
That’s fantastic! In the US that would enrage the Trumps for some insane reason so it won’t happen here. At least anytime soon. Perhaps on a state by state basis like California.
Isaac1867@reddit
Ya, I could see states like California doing their own plastics ban even if the US Feds didn't want to.
footprints64@reddit
Always
Sugar_Fuelled_God@reddit
Yes, I cut them, I also cut the handles on any plastic bags I get and cut them open as well, and the other one I do is crushing all tins I get from food such as bean tins. I won't be the one who kills, ducks, birds, fish, dolphins, cats, dogs or any other animal through sheer negligence, if I'm not going to eat it then I don't want to kill it.
cantwejustplaynice@reddit
Which country still has these available? They should've been legislated out of existence decades ago.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
The good ol’ US of A.
cantwejustplaynice@reddit
Seriously? Haha, just add it to the list I guess.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
It’s a long one.
Pleistocenebison@reddit
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Golden_Enby@reddit
Always. Mom made sure to drill that into her kids, and I'm grateful for it.
nbf31@reddit
You still have them? I can’t remember the last time I saw them!
badannbad@reddit (OP)
I’m in the US. Are you elsewhere?
niseynisey@reddit
I used to do it constantly but I don’t see these much anymore. Either I’m not buying the same products, or it’s just that they package things differently. Most everything comes in cardboard boxes now.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Yes, true.
jekyl42@reddit
I cut up like 6 or 7 just tonight. I bartend in a dive, and I see these all the time there - almost entirely for American domestic beer tallboy cans: Miller High Life, PBR, Hamms, Old Style, etc.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Wow that’s a lot considering people are responding that they haven’t even seen them in years. Love PBR btw.
jacobthellamer@reddit
I am pretty sure they are banned here.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Where are you?
jacobthellamer@reddit
New Zealand
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Okay well that’s good that they are banned there! Side note: I love your accents!
FuzzyScarf@reddit
Yes I still cut them up.
vintage_seaturtle@reddit
Still do
trkyN3St3w@reddit
Of course I cut them. I am not a monster
Corbo5@reddit
Sure do, every time!
jakebird88@reddit
I DONT KNOW - WHAT DO TOU THINK, FELLOW XENIAL - AM I RIGHT???
badannbad@reddit (OP)
I see the sarcasm but can’t understand it.
jakebird88@reddit
It's a Xenial thing
LadyOfReason@reddit
I rarely see them anymore, but I did and still do cut them up
bjgrem01@reddit
I just tear them apart. Takes like 5 seconds to go from that to a bumpy plastic string with no holes.
timthemajestic@reddit
Actually just cut one up the day before yesterday. haha Just .makes sense and takes all of 10 seconds.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
And it makes you feel good about yourself. Pat on the back type ish.
FKFnz@reddit
They don't exist in my country and haven't for perhaps 25 years?
Disastrous-Square662@reddit
Same. But I do cut the plastic or metal rings on jars.
Coakis@reddit
I stopped buying products that use them, and try to reduce the amount of plastic bottles that incidentally don't seem be recycled either.
Cans and the paste board containers in them seem to not have problems with them being recycled.
GenerAsianX1992@reddit
Still
DavePeesThePool@reddit
Still do.
Complex-Fault-1161@reddit
I haven’t seen one in a long time, but I always did (or do if I see a rare one). I live on a barrier island where Loggerheads nest, and I have seen too many of them get caught up in these stray shrimping nets, etc.
It's really sucks to see a sea turtle in distress, but fortunately, we have a very good rescue center here.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Oh that’s good! 😊
VisibleSea4533@reddit
Absolutely
carryon4threedays@reddit
I cut them off, and remind my students to as well.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Ah so it is being passed on! Glad to hear!
zerobomb@reddit
I just realized I have not purchased a 6 pack of diabetes in more than a decade.
queenquirk@reddit
No, simply because I don't buy them to begin with. If I did, then I probably would. I know I'd feel terrible if I forgot to.
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Yes- the intense guilt I felt for even thinking of being lazy and not doing it as a child.
Jupiter_quasar@reddit
The rare times I get drinks with these things, I make sure to cut every little hole. Gatorade ones are the worst.
Twobrokelegs@reddit
I make sure not to purchase these things
badannbad@reddit (OP)
Two steps ahead.
craigsler@reddit
I don't buy anything with them too often, but if/when I do, yes. I cut each section so it ends up small pieces and no closed loops. It can affect more than just birds.
MF-SMUG@reddit
Yeppers
jp7755qod@reddit
Yes, I cut them up. Sports drinks, beer, and maybe smaller soda bottles, are about the only things I see that still have these on them though. Not nearly as omnipresent as they used to be.
gbroon@reddit
Don't really see them a lot these days but I've always cut them up. While they probably end up buried in landfill it's a simple thing just in case they do end up a danger to animals.