With the paper plate, you use it, then you throw it away. I imagine after it sits at the dump for a while it will eventually begin to break down. So, it does become garbage, yet it does break down and decompose. One negative effect is that a tree must be cut down to make the plates, yet I imagine that a lot of plates can be made from even a single tree. And, from what I hear, companies who do this are very good about planting a new tree to replace the one which was cut. Another negative effect may be the energy used by the factory that makes the plates and the waste and/or pollution it might expel.
With the 'traditional', you reuse it over and over, so this would sound like it has to be the more evironmentally friendly choice, but each time you wash it you use water, electricity (if you use a dish washer) and soap (which is then poured down the drain and into the environment).
What do you guys think?
2006-10-26 01:03:20 · 11 answers · asked by PrimeTime 2 in Environment
You're not looking at the full picture for each type of plate. Lots of energy is expended getting the wood to the mill. Paper production (and paper recycling - to make white paper) uses lots of water and bleach which is bad for the environment and also a great deal of energy. You have to also consider the transport of the plates from the mill to the shop each time they are produced, packaging that is used, and also the fuel you use to go to the shop and buy them each time. The plates also have a plastic covering (called waxing) which does not biodegrade. Should the paper plates go to landfill they will release methane as they degrade (eventually) which is a very powerful greenhouse gas.
On the other hand, the traditional plate uses a great deal of energy (in comparison) when it is made (kilns etc) but will last almost infinately longer (provided that it isn't broken) and only incurrs the environmental cost of transport once. Yes you need to wash them but with much less water than is used in paper manufacture and this water can be recycled and used again on your garden or in your toilet (grey water recycling). You can also use eco-friendly detergents which can also be filtered out by grey water recycling (using reed beds) and are much better for the environment than bleach as is used in paper manufacture. Finally when a traditional plate is broken or discarded it is inert and will eventually be ground down into dust which does not harm the environment.
So my answer is simple - The traditional plate is best for the environment.
2006-10-26 04:06:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ok you've explained both advantages/disadvantages of both types, so here's what I think.
With a paper plate, you can recycle it and not just throw it away. through recycling, it can be used again. So I think a paper plate, by recycling it, is more environmentally healthy.
Via traditional plate, the soap does go into the sewage, possibly damaging ground water in case of a sewage leak. That'll definitely damage ecosystems and your nearby environment.
There are many ways of generating electrities without damaging the environment (though it takes lots of money), and water is a limited resource, so that reduces the environment's resources.
Paper plate. Recycled.
2006-10-26 08:08:53 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paper plates do not need to be made from trees.
It is just that government subsidised clear-cut logging and no policing of sustainable forestry means that the market for other fibres is squewed. (and hemp, which makes really good paper, as used for the early draft of the US constitution, was banned in the US)
Alternative vegetable celulose material, eg potatoe startch, makes good disposable plates and cutlery and can be easily composted - as used exclusivly at the Australian Olympic games. The only evironmental proviso is that the plants are not intensivly grown requiring large agro-chemical intputs.
2006-10-26 08:59:08 · answer #3 · answered by fred 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can use biodegradable soap--it's a bit more expensive, but very worth it. The dishwasher uses less water than hand-washing, and you can wash more plates. In my experience, I have to double up on paper plates if I'm eating anything with any kind of sauce, and then there's the packaging. I'll stick to china and stoneware, thankee.
2006-10-26 08:12:51 · answer #4 · answered by GreenEyedLilo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
traditional plates are better for the environment as you can re-use them all you have to do is wash it. Paper plates you use once and throw away its all about saving the trees that's most important we need trees to live (oxygen).
2006-10-29 16:44:55 · answer #5 · answered by shay3r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
saywot has made a very good point here actually...If you think about it...you have to wash the pots/pans that you cook the food in anyway, so really speaking you wouldnt be wasting anymore hot water and soap would you? Unless of course, you're cooking for a herd, then you'd need to change your water lol
definitely the old crockery imo
2006-10-26 09:02:33 · answer #6 · answered by town_cl0wn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tradition plate as long as you get a dog to lick it clean instead of washing it lolol.
i use eco friendly soap so that is ok but i do have my water boiling burning hot when washing so for me maybe the paper plates
2006-10-26 08:12:48 · answer #7 · answered by jojitsui 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
using a real plate is better for the environment as it doesn't pollute or involve cutting trees down. using water doesn't have to be detrimental to the environment.
2006-10-26 08:13:20 · answer #8 · answered by wave 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say paper plates are worst just for the sheer volume of them that are made and just used once - especially for kids parties and things
2006-10-27 13:27:11 · answer #9 · answered by Kayleigh P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
early man never had the proplem
2006-10-30 03:35:27 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋