If we know that there are basically no alternatives, then we don’t have to waste time and misery chasing after each CEO and corporation in detail.

I hate it

It just means that the technological “level” has to come down, to simplify.

I linked to the right thing, a great introduction to understanding how to change systems:

PLACES TO INTERVENE IN A SYSTEM

(in increasing order of effectiveness)

12. Constants, parameters, numbers (such as subsidies, taxes, standards).

11. The sizes of buffers and other stabilizing stocks, relative to their flows.

10. The structure of material stocks and flows (such as transport networks, population age structures).

9. The lengths of delays, relative to the rate of system change.

8. The strength of negative feedback loops, relative to the impacts they are trying to correct against.

7. The gain around driving positive feedback loops.

6. The structure of information flows (who does and does not have access to information).

5. The rules of the system (such as incentives, punishments, constraints).

4. The power to add, change, evolve, or self-organize system structure.

3. The goals of the system.

2. The mindset or paradigm out of which the system — its goals, structure, rules, delays, parameters — arises.

1. The power to transcend paradigms.

Regulations are important, but low(er) impact.

My point is that regulations are likely insufficient.

What we really need is a reduction in consumption. We need to stop living life as “dedicated waste manufacturers”.

Here’s a useful article to help get over the limits of regulations: https://donellameadows.org/archives/leverage-points-places-to-intervene-in-a-system/

just collecting and combusting at high temperatures

You mean GHG pollution.

They don’t actually have alternatives in the single-use realm. The result must be an end to it, bankruptcy from their perspective.

If we replace plastic containers with containers that are paper covered in PFAS and similar substances, we’re not solving the problems.

For plastic waste: plastic-eating fungi

It’s going to be fun when I have to spray my computer devices with fungicides.

Regulation

that’s extremely vague, what does the regulation do? Does it limit types of plastic? Uses of plastic? Production quantities? Waste allocations?

what’s the fix?