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rockies
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# Posted: 19 Dec 2018 07:13pm
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I was watching a news story about the amount of micro-plastics that are ending up in the oceans. The vast majority of particles are the result of lint from our clothing being washed down the drain while doing laundry. It was suggested that adding a washing machine lint trap would help eliminate this problem.
I'd never heard of a lint trap for a washing machine before, but apparently they also help protect your septic system.
https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/19/17800654/clothes-plastic-pollution-polyester- washing-machine
http://www.environmentalenhancements.com/
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curious
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# Posted: 19 Dec 2018 09:29pm - Edited by: curious
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It does not seem like rockies has a grievance but is trying in his own way to raise awareness that maybe everything we do has some impact on where we live and that can extend from our local residence to the oceans of the world.
I have been very aware of all the lint caught in the dryer catcher but had not thought about the fibers that may come off clothes while being washed. So maybe plastic lint in the water is not directly a small cabin thing, but it looks like it may be a world thing and we only have one of them. The Vox article does state that more study is necessary, that we don't have lots of hard data that proves these micro plastic fibers are harmful. BUT, we do know that even smaller particles have caused permanent long term damage to human lungs, so it may not be too far a stretch to be concerned about these fibers in lakes and oceans.
(Think of black lung disease in humans for how small particles of dust affect humans. Black lung disease is on an upkick in the US since the late 90's apparently.) So much for clean coal
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 19 Dec 2018 10:26pm
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Quoting: Borrego Even if it were true and even if it mattered.
 
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 01:39am
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I've been using them for 30 years.
I never thought about the environment while using them.
I'm glad I could help even though it may seem like a small way to contribute, if everyone did this it would help.
My reason for using the lint trap are tree roots and our drain pipe. I live in a old house and have a old drain pipe with micro cracks. I don't want anything getting hung up on the tree roots. We are fortunate to have a beautiful maple tree in our backyard. Our neighbor behind us where the pipe also runs has 10 beautiful oak trees.
We had a clean out installed outside so that when we have the pipe routered once per year the workmen don't have to bring the dirty nasty tube and snake down my basement steps. Also some splash back occurred. Not much but it was gross. If we don't do this clean out once per year our basement floods.
Also the clean out outside is a larger diameter than inside so they can get more roots out.
One would really be surprised how much lint, dog hair etc.. Gets caught up in the trap. I have to change mine once a month.
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sparky30_06
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 06:53am
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pantyhose tied to the end of the washing machine discharge hose works just fine. My mother has been doing it for over 40 years to help keep the lint out of the septic. If I was on a city sewer I wouldn't worry about it.
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 08:34am
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I had risers installed in my septic and the outlet of the septic, I have a filter installed, this is the inlet to pump chamber, next stop is drain field. Its very important to not plug drain field from the inside.
Hair is the worst for a septic, doesnt degrade, floats at midway, while everything else either rises to the top as scum or sinks to the bottom as sludge. I have a new pump installed, tank pumped and system treated, its a 10 yr deal for me. I was told to inspect and clean outlet filter once a year.
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Atlincabin
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 09:58am
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I'm truly curious, what does one do with the captured fibers if one uses a washing machine filter? Recycle bin? Or do they ultimately end up in the landfill anyway?
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curious
Member
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 10:42am
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A landfill is better than the lakes and oceans.
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silverwaterlady
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 11:31am
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Since recycling programs don't want dirty items of course the lint filter gets thrown into the trash.
I'm not going to fret about that. I recycle everything that I possibly can. My wheeled city supplied thirty gallon recycle can is close to full each week. I even bring recyclable trash home to the city from camp.
I donate serviceable items to Sally's and even clothing that is not serviceable because they send those items away to be recycled.
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KelVarnsen
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 12:35pm
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Quoting: Borrego THIS SITE IS NOT A FORUM FOR ENVIRONMENTAL GRIEVANCES AND OTHER RELATED ISSUES. GO START YOUR OWN FORUM IF THIS IS WHAT DRIVES YOU!
For someone who doesn't like to listen to others' opinions, you sure like to make yours known. I thought us liberals were supposed to be the "snowflakes". I'm not sure why people can't just ignore topics that aren't of interest to them.
I know rockies is occasionally accused of spamming, but I find most of his posts interesting and relevant to construction, cabins, remote living. This particular topic could very well be important to those with septic systems.
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creeky
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 01:23pm
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Thx for the tip on this Rockies.
I use a straw bale filter at the grey water exit point for my washroom/shower/laundry room. I hadn't looked for debris from my clothing.
I will have a look.
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Atlincabin
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 06:08pm
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Not sure I see how the original post was political but....as long as the discussion is civil and insightful (not inciteful), I don't mind any of the topics that have been posted over the years. Easy enough to ignore posts of non-interest.
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rockies
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 08:46pm - Edited by: rockies
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Well, upon reading through other people's comments I was just going to leave this topic alone but then I got thinking about Borrego's comment "even if it mattered".
Well, what if it does matter? How would it matter? Does it matter if animals are absorbing mirco-plastics into their bodies? What about fish? Birds? Reptiles? Or does it only really matter if the mirco-plastic particles clog up or damage your septic system and you have to shell out a few bucks to get it fixed?
If micro-plastics are being absorbed into the food chain, does it matter if they also get absorbed into us when we consume the food? It might.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/oct/22/microplastics-found-in-human-stoo ls-for-the-first-time
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curious
Member
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 08:59pm
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Quoting: Atlincabin Not sure I see how the original post was political but
It is only political if the mindset of the reader is such that they believe that environmentalism is a hoax.
Quoting: rockies Well, what if it does matter?
Exactly. It very well might matter.
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naturelover66
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 09:03pm
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Ofcourse it matters. I think people just dont want to think about it ?
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 20 Dec 2018 10:55pm
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Take all dryer lint, use it for quilts, comforters, spin it into yarn, make a cap? Nah, I'm tossing mine into the trash. When I clean my septic outlet filter, I will rinse it out with a hose on my lawn where it might stay there or end up in a storm drain.
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CabinBuilder
Admin
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# Posted: 23 Dec 2018 11:31am
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Had to delete some posts here - the topic got too hot and divisive.
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