The Dish on Disposable Dishes
Fact
About 18 percent of the garbage Americans produce is disposable containers. We even throw away 25 billion polystyrene cups each year, but you can help cut down on that waste.
Get Started
- Invest in a good set of bamboo or steel travel dinnerware. They often have their own cases or fold down to fit nicely in your purse or pocket.
- If you’re at home, use a ceramic or reusable dish. Though the cleanup is more, the overall consumption is lower.
- Reuse plastic forks, spoons and chopsticks until they are no longer usable for eating, and then use them to help hold up plants as they grow or transform them into toys.
Become a Pro
- Most people often have a bring-your-own-drink policy. So why not have a bring-your-own-plate rule at your next party?
- Choose restaurants where their policies are as good as the food. Support a local restaurant that’s making responsible packaging choices.
- Bring a set of reusable dinnerware to work, and encourage your co-workers to do the same. That company potluck tastes a lot better off your favorite ceramic plate
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments.
The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Margee Barlow-Plante
posted on February 4th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I work for the Energy Conservation Department for Hillsborough County in Tampa, Florida. We currently have two paper recycling programs going supplying bins for over 1/2 of our almost 300 sites. I get calls daily for plastic bottle recycling, plastic, glass and stryofoam trays. Do you have any sources for me to research that may can help us out in those areas? Please help – we are the 9th largest school district in the country so you can imagine how much plastic we have.
Ana
posted on February 5th, 2009 at 9:23 am
MY COMPANY THAT I WORK FOR HAS STARTED WITH SOME RECYCLING BUT WE CA NOT RECYLING ANY PLASTIC OR PAPER, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO MONEY FOR BINS OR HAVE THE TRASH COMPANY TO PICK UP AND WE ARE A BIG NON- PROFIT COMPANY. DO YOU HAVE ANY SOURCES FOR ME TO RESEARCH THAT WOOULD HELPUS.
Rudy
posted on May 12th, 2009 at 4:53 am
Would you know what companies that sell biodegradable plates, cups, dinnerware, etc. on a large scale?
Valerie Rasp
posted on July 8th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Solo Company has come out with a line called “Bare by Solo”, which has compostable cups and plates, renewable plates, and recyclable cups. Finding a wholesaler though to make bulk purchases, I’m not sure of.
Check with Keep America Beautiful affiliates to see if there are any in your area who would like to partner up for a recycling program grant.
Jan Painter
posted on August 19th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
I am a teacher . . . I personally recycle all the plastic that ends up in my classroom. . . . I have a coffee cup, plastic drinking cup, and plastic plate/utensils that I carry with me for all the meetings and events with food. When I travel I carry a travel mug and NEVER USE the paper cups (esp. styrofoam) ones offered in hotels and restaurants. We have to do this . . . even if it is one cup at a time!
Luke Rudolph
posted on August 21st, 2009 at 1:22 pm
My wife loves to use paper plates and towels very often, it probably counts for about 70% of the time. I’m really trying to get her to switch from disposble to a reuseable choice such as bamboo, ceramic or a cloth towel. It’s not like they don’t have them in the house. She’s the complete opposite of me when it comes to recyling and reusing. I’ve been trying to convert her for quite some time now (8 years) and it’s not working.
Ladies, how can I easily convince her old habits need to stop? This habit stems from her family that uses disposble one time items. HELP! :)
Yvonne
posted on November 5th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Hello,
A company called earthtoearthpack.com sells biodegradable plates, cups, dinnerware, etc. on a large scale?
Thanks,
Yvonne
Yvonne
posted on November 5th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Hello Jan,
Doese your city have a program like we have here in San Jose, Ca. Please look at the URL. If not maybe you can call your city and see if they could contact the City of San Jose for ideas.
Thanks,
Yvonne
Yvonne
posted on November 5th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Hello,
Look at the city of San jose’s ESD website.
Christian Coughlin
posted on November 29th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
The Green Supply Company LLC is a supplier of biodegradable and compostable plates, bowls, cups, cutlery, takeout containers, lunch trays, etc. We work with businesses and schools to swap out their Styrofoam products with eco-friendly alternatives. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me via email: christian.coughlin@mygreensupply.com, or through our website: http://www.mygreensupply.com.
Mike
posted on December 26th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
eco Greenwares is well known supplier of biodegradable and compostable sugarcane plates, bowls, PLA cups, cutlery forks, spoons, forks, take out food containers, school lunch trays, clamshells, etc. Our goal is to provide sustainable solutions to schools, restaurants, cash and carry stores, and cafeterias to reduce carbon foot prints. Our products are best replacement of traditional styro foam and plastic products. eco Greenwares offer the highest quality green products at the most competitive pricing. If anyone has any questions please feel free to contact me at mrupani@ecoGreenwares.com or check out products at http://www.ecogreenwares.com.
Michelle
posted on April 8th, 2010 at 11:35 am
Schools and large companies could find resources through programs at http://www.terracycle.net, where they could make money for charity at the same time.
Roger
posted on June 9th, 2010 at 11:51 pm
Teanhe pak is a company that produce the biodegradable and compostable tableware in china,we got plates cups bowls hamburger box which are all made of wheate straw and bagasse.all eco-friendly.our products got a very good market in US.
We are the biggest manufacturer for this products. We can produce white and unbleached products, for example bowl, plate, box and tray. At present we have six production lines for one workshop, the annual capacity is 240 million pieces, and gradually we will have three workshops and enlarge the output.
We have big advantage in this field since our company also produce the pulp. Therefore there is no need to worry about the raw material. At present, we mainly export to Japan, Korea, Europe and USA. Our products are made of sugarcane fibre and straw fibre You are welcome to visit our web:http://www.teanhepak.com