Yeah, the "lot of plastic going straight in the trash" part really hits home. Even rinsing them uses a ton of water over time, which is its own kind of waste. It makes you wonder if the real pro tip is finding a reusable system that's just as fast, like those silicone mats you mentioned. The goal is saving time without creating a bigger mess for the planet, you know?

Yeah, my buddy had that exact thing happen last year. A zip tie he used on a service drop got baked in the sun for a couple summers, snapped clean, and the line whipped down and took out a chunk of his gutter. Total mess. He's been using those heavy duty velcro straps ever since and hasn't had a problem. Makes sense, the plastic just can't handle the weather after a while.

Yeah, tracking every dollar really opens your eyes, like @xena_fisher49 said.