I’ve just come back from Devon (UK), I had a wonderful time and really enjoyed the beauty, fresh air, and openness of Dartmoor. I also enjoyed using my Hasselblad and in total shot 11 rolls of 120 B/W film and 5 rolls of 35mm. I’ve now developed them all and have a scanning job ahead of me! Mostly, I’m pleased with the results. I did however end up with a pile of rubbish!
It struck me that to enjoy a lovely environment, is perhaps at odds with the environmental impact of film photography, or at least it should be considered. Of course, what is “invisible” is the carbon footprint of the film manufacture, the water and chemistry used to develop it, and the power used to clean the water that comes out of the tap!
I shall of course recycle the card boxes, and the paper backing too, that’s easy enough, we should, and all do – don’t we? Unfortunately I don’t believe that in my area it is possible to recycle the quasi foil/plastic wrap that the film is contained in.
I shall also recycle all of the plastic spools, the tubs that the 35mm came in, and I’ve split open the 35mm cassettes so I can re-cycle the centre plastic core of those too. Another chunk of the waste!
With 35mm, as I also bulk load some film, I try to use the cassette a second time anyway, so it’s not single use, but I do only use them once more. I don’t want to run the risk or a light trap issue, either dust scratching or light leak. I’ve never had a problem re-using them once.
By doing the above I reckon I’ve reduced my “landfill waste” by about 2/3rds, and it really hasn’t taken much effort on my part. I’m happy with that, or rather it’s a good start.
S.H.O.U.T. 
A significant number of my 120 film spools have been repurposed as cat toys. For some reason they love chasing them around.
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lol – I must get a cat!!! (or visit the lions of Longleat and throw them out the window as I drive along!) but then that wouldn’t be very environmentally friendly either really! I do like cats – umm….. Cheers and best wishes – Andy
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Some friends of mine stopped using film due to the gelatin part necessary for putting an emulsion on the celluloid of film. The film manufacturers are still struggling to find the replacement.
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Hi Victor! Hope you are keeping well!! I can imagine that especially if it’s for religious reasons, gelatine is an issue. In the UK our bank notes, (now “plastic”) turned out to have some “animal products” in them. What do vegans do, not use cash anymore? I guess it boils down to what is more important to the individual? You’d imagine these days with our knowledge of chemistry a replacement would be easy, for that matter the “re-creation” of Kodachrome, but it seems not to be the case! Stay well! Cheers Andy
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Indeed I’m talking about my vegan friends. And this all is about the personal choice. About the credit card sample – there’s nothing to do about it so they just use it. By the way, most ppl here are just using their phones with a bank application instead of having a credit card with them. But you’re right – the priority between must and nice is the final decision for many..
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