5 ms·

Disposable forks and plates seems wasteful

by nso95 8y ago

Rjevski 8y ago
Plates are paper so the environmental impact should be relatively low. I agree that the plastic forks are still a problem but haven't really found a solution. I do wonder though, would never having to wash dishes offset the impact of disposable cutlery? Edit: never mind, see below. Apparently paper still has a ton of impact as far as manufacturing it goes (it's not just renewable trees, there are chemicals involved).
- jolmg 8y ago
  Offset the impact on the environment? I don't think so. How is it harmful to the environment if you wash dishes?
  - Rjevski 8y ago
    Well you use water. My question was whether paper plates (which I - wrongly - assumed were pretty much free from an environment point of view) had a lower impact than purifying & transporting water (and the maintenance of pipes/etc) needed to wash conventional cutlery.
    - jolmg 8y ago
      I might be very ignorant here, but I would think that anything that goes down the drain is very biodegradable (it's food). Sure, it's better for the environment if we didn't contaminate the water with food, but I don't think it can compare to the time it takes for plastic or paper to break down.
    - kimdotcom 8y ago
      And the soap/detergent and food remnants being processed at the sewage plant, or the septic pumping truck that cleans out your tank and transports the waste.
- toomanybeersies 8y ago
  I had to figure this out for an assignment at university. The answer is no, it doesn't offset the impact of disposable cutlery. Plates are a bit trickier, since they break, but cutlery lasts practically forever, I've got 30 year old knives and forks that are still going strong. This is especially true if you use a dishwasher, modern dishwashers are very efficient.
- Topgamer7 8y ago
  The creation of paper is chemically intensive, from processing to dyes to color it. It is not environmentally friendly.
  - kimdotcom 8y ago
    So, no toilet paper and paper towels then? Just a washcloth and bidet?
    - Topgamer7 8y ago
      Certainly more environmentally friendly, although transitioning to those for public settings requires more maintenance and procedure than simply having a waste basket in the bathroom. My girlfriend did exchange in Brazil and fell in love with bidets there.
- nso95 8y ago
  https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Stix-Cutlery-Kit-200ct-Disposable/dp/B019ZDV61E https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Stix-Cutlery-Kit-200ct-Dispos...
deleted 8y ago
[deleted]

Disposable forks and plates seems wasteful

by nso95 8y ago

Disposable forks and plates seems wasteful

Plates are paper so the environmental impact should be relatively low. I agree that the plastic forks are still a problem but haven't really found a solution. I do wonder though, would never having to wash dishes offset the impact of disposable cutlery? Edit: never mind, see below. Apparently paper still has a ton of impact as far as manufacturing it goes (it's not just renewable trees, there are chemicals involved).

jolmg 8y ago
Offset the impact on the environment? I don't think so. How is it harmful to the environment if you wash dishes?
- Rjevski 8y ago
  Well you use water. My question was whether paper plates (which I - wrongly - assumed were pretty much free from an environment point of view) had a lower impact than purifying & transporting water (and the maintenance of pipes/etc) needed to wash conventional cutlery.
  - jolmg 8y ago
    I might be very ignorant here, but I would think that anything that goes down the drain is very biodegradable (it's food). Sure, it's better for the environment if we didn't contaminate the water with food, but I don't think it can compare to the time it takes for plastic or paper to break down.
  - kimdotcom 8y ago
    And the soap/detergent and food remnants being processed at the sewage plant, or the septic pumping truck that cleans out your tank and transports the waste.
toomanybeersies 8y ago
I had to figure this out for an assignment at university. The answer is no, it doesn't offset the impact of disposable cutlery. Plates are a bit trickier, since they break, but cutlery lasts practically forever, I've got 30 year old knives and forks that are still going strong. This is especially true if you use a dishwasher, modern dishwashers are very efficient.
Topgamer7 8y ago
The creation of paper is chemically intensive, from processing to dyes to color it. It is not environmentally friendly.
- kimdotcom 8y ago
  So, no toilet paper and paper towels then? Just a washcloth and bidet?
  - Topgamer7 8y ago
    Certainly more environmentally friendly, although transitioning to those for public settings requires more maintenance and procedure than simply having a waste basket in the bathroom. My girlfriend did exchange in Brazil and fell in love with bidets there.
nso95 8y ago
https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Stix-Cutlery-Kit-200ct-Disposable/dp/B019ZDV61E https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Stix-Cutlery-Kit-200ct-Dispos...

deleted 8y ago

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