I think paper plates are worse. It's not just the immediate waste, but also the production of the plates (for 1 solitary use), the logging, the polution the paper mills create...

I had this thought myself last night as I washing the dishes!

Arza is right. I need to invest in some of those unbreakable picnic plates this summer.

Real plates are for sure better than paper. My tip is, if you have people over often for cookouts and such, stock up on Ikea plastic plates. Ikea has a selection of Melamine plates that cost about 1$-2$. A nice collection of plain white circular plates will compliment any occasion, colorful napkins can brighten them up.

agreeing with arza — if it were just the paper waste, sure, tough call. but because water and electricity are used to produce the paper, package it and transport it to you... not so much.

I think paperplates are way way worse. Although, you can compost them in the municipal compost here.

That's got to be the laziest post I've seen here lately. You got to thinking? Can you do some research and come up with a consensus?

This is another option for when you are not near a kitchen or for a large gathering.

http://www.branchhome.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=181

Thank god they weren't styrofoam...

Anyway, I'd say deal with the dishes next time.

I think of this every time I'm washing towels for the nth time in a week as a result of mopping up a dog mess or one of my S/O's accidents. We use a lot of paper towels as a result of his health problems, but washing the towels three or four times per week also uses resources. Sometimes there isn't a good choice.

I should have included this in my previous post:

We had some friends over for dinner recently, and S/O asked if I wanted to buy paper plates. I said no way, would much rather wash dishes.

Before we met, he ate exclusively off styrofoam plates. I put that to rest REALLY quickly.

I second what Jennifer G. said about the IKEA plastic plates. Plus a lot of their picnicware is made in the USA, so that makes 'em even better for the environment!

I hate paper and plastic plates both. Use decent dinnerware, and if your guests are that clumsy, buy cheap stuff at the thrift store.

But everything uses resources. You could just throw the grub in a trough.

lol - Join us for a July 4 picnic! Dress down as we will be eating out of a trough and donate the money saved to Greenpeace!
I vote use washable plates. Don't leave the water running as you wash.

Paper plates=landfills. People hundreds of years ago didn't have paper plates, and they made it through life okay. They'd think you were crazy for throwing a plate away.

Doing dishes burns calories! Every little bit helps!

When you throw a party, make it potluck, less clean up.

Madampince-good for you for stopping the styrofoam madness!
:)

I really love "preserve" plastic plates... they are sturdy, are recyclable (#5), are less than a dollar each, lightweight, made from 100% recycled plastic, AND you can wash them. They are great for picnics, you can just stick them in a bag after and clean them when you get home.

http://www.recycline.com/tableware.html

unfortunately I havent seen any bulk packages for parties, but there might be somewhere.

As we in S. Calif. are currently in a drought - I would say it's a toss up - but use the paper Ones!

I have a feeling AT meant to compare RECYCLED CONTENT paper plates, not recyclable paper plates to real plates.

You can't recycle a food-stained paper plate in a regular, municipal recycling system.

The real plate is overwhelmingly more environmentally friendly. Buy some used ones at a thrift store.

I believe in recycling and all for the enviroment but with all this going green stuff I feel it's such a fad and some people are so phony with it. It's probably the same people that I see throwing sh*t out their car window that call about eco friendly furniture to IKEA.

Really, Mr. D? My exciting, fun friends also do dishes, so we just meet up 15 minutes later. ;)