With all of the focus on recycling... and not wasting. Is it better?

Question

to use paper napkins and recycle them or use linen and wash them? Which uses more energy?

Answer 1

That's a really good question! If you use paper napkins, that destroys trees, plus the fuel to cut the trees, haul the trees, and the energy to turn trees into paper, then more fuel to deliver the paper product. If you use cloth and wash them, you still have the fuel of working the land, (but of course, most of that stuff is now made over sea's), fuel for the delivery of the cloth, energy for making the product, then when you wash it, you use energy for washing and drying and water to boot.
Gee, it seems the best thing is to just lick our fingers!

Answer 2

A single linen napkin can last upwards of 20 years or more; however in this same period, you will have used nearly 20,000 paper napkins. There's no comparison.

Additionally, paper napkins (along with tissue paper, Kleenex, and toilet paper) can not be recycled ~ there is nothing that can be done with them except to incinerate them (contributing to air pollution) or throw them in the landfill. I do suppose you could bury them in the back yard if you had the room.

As far as laundering, our napkins see a days worth of use before they have to be laundered, and then, I simply hang onto them until I'm doing a load of sheets or towels. Waiting until they can be combined with a similar load does not consume any extra energy.

Answer 3

I've used cloth napkins for years with my family of five. Since I do laundry anyway, it doesn't matter much to the environment to add them to a standard washing machine load. Paper napkins, on the other hand, cost more in the long run and seem wasteful.

Answer 4

I'd use linen napkins that can be washed and re-used for years. You can throw them in with the rest of your laundry, so you're not using any more energy.
When you must use paper napkins, you're right: don't just toss them in the trash. REuse; REduce and REcycle!
It's amazing how much energy can be saved simply by practicing frugality: turn off lights, television sets, computers, and appliances when not using them. Instead of driving to the store, to school or to work, take mass transit, ride a moped or a bike, or walk whenever it's convenient. Recycle everything: cardboard; magazines; aluminum cans; plastic milk jugs; telephone directories; tin cans; asphalt; used cooking oil; office paper; newsprint; computers and accessories; cell phones; oil; steel; plastic bags; junk mail; ink cartridges; glass; dirty dish water or bath water (use it to water plants, etc.); typewriter ribbons; toner cartridges; fluorescent bulbs (many Sears stores will take them); plastic packaging; wood; aluminum foil - it all can be recycled instead of tossed in the trash to be thrown in landfills. -RKO- 07/23/07

Answer 5

Our family uses both, depending on the situation. I would think that using paper napkins uses a lot more energy.

Answer 6

It doesn't really matter. Napkins and toilet paper are the last incarnations of paper anyway....they've been recycled many a time before they serve this purpose.

Answer 7

Some energy will have to be used in some form or fashion !! So why not also put that or some of the same effort !?! Or atleast a good effort forward to recycle things back to the point that they can be of use to others !?! Possibly those that might be in need of certain somethings !! I mean you never know & it will cut down on atleast a fraction of clutter for awhile !!?!! `'R,'r`r.r'r.-

Answer 8

eh you have enough dishes to do plus the napkins no uh uh throw it away in the trash!