Do you regularly use disposable plates?

[The Mystery Machine]

No need to be so touchy. It was just a simple question.

I don't really think that putting a dish in the dishwasher is the Herculean feat you describe.

Until you try and get teenagers to do it.

 

[SpecialK]

Until you try and get teenagers to do it.

Agreed!

 

[mhsjax]

Are we reading the same thread? I don't see anyone posting that they can't stand the fact that others use paper plates, or trying to convince anyone else to switch to regular plates.

Mentioning the reason you personally prefer real plates does not equate to trying to convince other people to do the same. If it does, I guess everyone who mentioned how big their family is, how many hours they work, or how many activities their kids are involved in, is also trying to convince regular plate users to switch to paper.

Really, I saw a few that stated they were a waste of money and bad for the environment. OK maybe not trying to convince others to switch, but a major attitude of superiority about using real plates. Not one person that used paper had anything smug to say. It appears as usual that Dis'ers just can't answer a simple question without being pretty obnoxious about it.

I think using a plate everytime you eat is a supreme waste of water and energy, or yeah one person said a swipe and they are clean. Um , I don't think so. I wash my plates, no swipey for me, I don't care what you had on it.

And no it was explaining that they were busy, not the same attitude as it is a waste of money. Saying you have a lot of activities and don't have time is about yourself, saying no it is a waste of energy and bad for the earth, isn't about just you. It is saying that "you " are wasting money and polluting the earth. Yeah, I am the anti green.

 

[TwinsinCA]

We use plates all the time and that means running the dishwasher at least once a day. Loading and unloading isn't a hassle for me. If it is a weekend and we are all home all day and I actually cook? It can be run 3 or 4 times a day. And there are just 4 of us.

The only time we used paper plates consistently is when our dishwasher broke For two weeks we were without one. I hate washing dishes/silverware/pans/etc. by hand. We got quite a bit of take out those couple weeks.

 

[luvmy3]

We use paperp plates for lunches, pizza, sandwiches, etc. I always use paper when I have a party or BBQ, there are enough dishes to do from cooking, I'm not spending the entire time in the kitchen cleaning.
We use disposable cups all the time, unless its a special occasion dinner.

 

[FireDancer]

Other than when I have a party I never use them. I think it's a waste and kind of lazy to use paper plates just to avoid washing dishes bit to each their own. I'm not going to get all up in arms about it.

 

[C.Ann]

When I'm at the lake - and it's just me alone - I will use a paper plate for a sandwich or something - and a styrofoam bowl for suitable items (cereal; cold macaroni salad; a dessert; etc.).. Since I have a gravity fed well (that can easily go dry and take weeks and weeks to fill back up again) I try to conserve as much water as possible..

If I've had something wet/gooey in the bowls, they get tossed after the first use.. If it's something dry (crackers; chips; etc.), I will re-use it.. Same goes for the paper plates..

I can buy a package of 200 paper plates for a dollar up there (on sale) - and 50 styrofoam bowls for a dollar - so cost isn't much of a factor.. I may run out of the bowls at some point while I'm there, but the paper plates usually last me 2 years..

When I have company - or my crew is up there for the weekend - I usually use "real" plates for most everything..

Here at DD's we use "real" plates 99% of the time.. The exception would be a birthday (cake and ice cream) or something along those lines..

 

[mhsjax]

I will gladly accept the lazy and wasteful title. I won't use real plates for sandwiches, I won't use real plates on the weekends when we have parties during the summer and have 15 people and 10 kids, swimming and eating their hotdogs and hamburgers all afternoon.

Now if you come for real dinner yeah, you get real plates. But for sandwiches and bbq, it ain't happening, so sign me u the the wasteful lazy gene pool. Along with almost everyone I know of around here.

 

[skiingfast]

Question: Do you know how much energy and water it takes to wash a plate?

Answer:Not even close to the amount to produce a paper plate.

Paper production is a huge consumer of both water and energy. Next time you go by a paper mill take note of the water body it's built next to. It's not coincidence. By recylcing paper the savings in water and energy is about 50% It's very hard to recylce paper plates.


Do I use paper plates. Yes, at group picnics. That's why I didn't vote for never.

 

[MIGrandma]

Don't use them at home, and don't even use them very often up north when we're camping. If it's just DH and myself we still use regular plates, glasses, cutlery, etc. But if others come up to camp with us, then we will use paper plates and disposable cups simply because I don't want to be inside doing a mountain of dishes while everyone else is still outside having fun. We use cheap paper ones (put them in wicker plate holders) and then just burn them in the firepit when we're done.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I don't even like paper plates for picnics. I rarely buy them.

TC

 

[MM27]

Someone asked why dirty a plate for pizza, etc.? The answer is to keep the paper plates out of the landfills.

I always cover in the microwave and use a plastic cover most of the time, plastic wrap once in a while, lid that goes with the dish I'm using occasionally.

Yes, and running a dishwasher constantly is so much better for the Earth.

 

[TheZue]

really? really? YOu can't figure that one out. Lets see, throw away, vs/ rinse, load, , unload and put away. Lets see that is 4 steps to 1 step. That is how it is more convenient.

You missed the going to the store to buy them regularly, taking out the garbage more, spending more in garbage bags, possibly dragging another garbage container to the curb, and for some of us going to the city and buying additional garbage tags. I don't rinse my plates, my dishwasher does that for me. I just can't see get how putting a plate in the dishwasher is that much harder than putting it in the garbage. If you want to use them fine, but I still think they aren't any more convenient....it's probably pretty even.

Honestly I'm just shocked that people use them for anything other than parties at home, I've never seen them anywhere but at the occasional kids party. I just find it odd that somehow a hotdog or peanut butter sandwich isn't worthy of a real plate...it's food. As for having lots of people over we have 14 dinner plates, 8 side plates (want to get that up to 14 too), then our 14 person china service. We knew the max we'd have over and planned apropriately. Even my inlaws who have had dozens of people over at once have never used paper. I don't know if it's regional, but the only reason I've seen them used here is to have theme plates for a theme party.

 

[mjkacmom]

Other than when I have a party I never use them. I think it's a waste and kind of lazy to use paper plays just to avoid washing dishes bit to each their own. I'm not going to get all up in arms about it.

When every meal results in a sink full of dishes, pots, utensils, not to mention putting condiments away, spraying and wiping the table and counters, wiping up the stove, cleaning up the floor v short cuts are a blessing. After cooking for seven, getting everything plated, finally getting to eat myself, getting the tabled cleared, loading the dishwasher, washing pots and pans, getting the kitchen back in order... dinner is a 2 plus hour ordeal. When I had my twins, I learned the phrase" whatever works" - never used paper except for bbq's until we had #4 and #5.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am eating an egg salad sandwich on a paper plate. Oh the horror.

 

[Katy Belle]

I voted just for picnics and barbecues... but if I'm really, really busy and can't stand the thought of doing the dishes I will use paper plates for sandwiches or something... but maybe about 6 times a year.

That being said.... my kiddos are big now 11,13,15 and I'm a SAHM, so my time is way more flexible than it used to be. When they were little we used paper plates more.

Actually, when the 3rd baby was born, and the other boys were 2 and 4, I bought 2 huge pkgs of Styrofoam plates, some little plates and Styrofoam bowls at Wal-Mart. I thought that when they were gone I'd probably be ready to do dishes again. I wasn't. I bought one more package of the big plates! After that I was ok and returned to using real plates most of the time.

 

[AKL_Megs]

If it's not one thing, it's another!

Of all of the things we've discussed/argued about lately, this one takes the cake! (But what kind if plate is the cake being served on...)

LOL!

WHO CARES!

 

[TheZue]

If it's not one thing, it's another!

Of all of the things we've discussed/argued about lately, this one takes the cake! (But what kind if plate is the cake being served on...)

LOL!

WHO CARES!

Seriously LOL But if you're passing out paper plates I demand a fun theme plate...a Cars one will do the trick today

 

[Minnie]

Yes, and running a dishwasher constantly is so much better for the Earth.

ITA

I find some of the comments a bit

 

[taitai]

So your hot dogs and hamburgers on the grill deserve real plates. wow.

YOu know what, it is fine if you( meaning as in general public) want to use real plates, but why is it so bothersome that some of us don't. I live in FLorida, we cook out all the time, we have pool parties and big bbq's, there is no way I am using real plates, no one that I know does. And trust me, my food sis really good too, that has nothing to do with it.

I will have to tell my son that his next PB7J deserves out fine china. He will get a kick out of that.

Well, truth be told, I don't cook hot dogs unless the kids have a babysitter. But, yes, anything we grill (fish, pork tenderloin, fajitas, etc.) is served on real plates. We also use real cloth napkins. We use serving bowls on the table and don't serve from the cook top. All the things that have been topics of recent threads. Meals are a big deal around here. A time for us to gather as a family and I put a great deal of effort into menu planning and preparing our food.

However, it is more than that. We are just a family that rarely uses paper products. We used cloth diapers, we use cloth napkins, etc. Just the way we do things. I don't think it is unusual for our circle of friends. I can't remember a time that we were served on paper plates at any party we have attended other than a kids party at Pump It Up or someplace similar. Maybe it is a regional thing.

Also, if it is an enviromental thing, paper is MUCH worse for the environment. The paper just ends up in landfills. The amount of water and electricity used to manufacture them is enormous plus all the bleach to make them so pearly white or other chemicals to make them colored or with designs. Those also are pollutants. Then, you add in all the greenhouse gases used to transport them to the market, go to the market and buy them, haul them to the landfill etc. It is no contest. Dishwashing uses FAR less resources, particularly if you have an energy efficient washer. Plus, the water used to wash the plates is sent to a treatment facility and reused. No question. Paper is much,much worse.