Opinions on plastic silverware, paper plates/bowls, etc?

[Kitsuragi]

i don't mind using them if they're given to me, but i won't go out of my way to buy them or reach for them ever when i have perfectly good silverware that i ALREADY BOUGHT at home. unless i have a party of some sort, plastic/paper silverware never really enters my house. also save the turtles

 

[nightglow]

I don't mind using them because I have health stuff that makes life hard sometimes. But we make sure to buy the paper plates instead of the Styrofoam for when we don't use regular washing dishes. Chopsticks are also helpful to use sometimes too instead of silverware, but we have the reusable ones made from recycled plastic.

Sometimes at the store they sell plastic ware that is biodegradable, or at least that is the ad on it. I've heard of some countries selling edible silverware in place of plastic. You just eat it when you are done using it. It looks like a hard cookie like thing.

When it comes to disposable ware, I think the biggest issue in US is the drink bottles, plastic wrapping for shipping, and the general lack of recycling bins to drop stuff in. Sometimes things are sold in a plastic or glass container and there are no bins anywhere to place them. Before covid sometimes walmart had stuff like that. Especially when it came to the plastic bags. We use cloth bags.
But in general when we use disposable things, I go for the paper because at least it will break down. Hoping the US will soon move on to hemp products which is very sustainable.

 

[visibleghost]

if i am at home i don't see any point in using plastic or paper cutlery or plates. wouldn't use it. if i'm at a picnic then yeah paper plates are useful but i usually bring metal cutlery from home because it feels less wasteful and plastic forks just break so easily. i use wooden spoons a lot for yoghurts or similar if i'm on the go, usually at work i'll just bring a wooden one time use spoon intended for ice cream to eat my yoghurt with.

 

[~Kilza~]

I don't mind using plastic or paper dishware (eating utensils, plates, etc.) if they're given to me to use or there's nothing else available, but they're definitely not my first choice of dishware to use. I wouldn't use them at home, as I feel that's wasteful over just doing the dishes.

 

[duckykate]

i don't use plastic silverware or bottles but i use paper plates in the microwave cos the ones we have cant go in there

 

[amemome]

I'll use plastic if it's the only option left. I hate how flimsy plastic utensils are, especially if I order meat. The fork will bend in half and the knife just... won't cut the meat. I also prefer how a metal fork, spoon, and knife feel (? in my hands/going into my mouth???) when I eat.

 

[meo]

For day to day, I don't buy them and wouldn't want to use them that often. Waste and just cost savings are main considerations for me. Rather have things I can wash/reuse than another thing to buy continuously.

For events/big family gatherings, I'm okay with them and probably would buy them just to save myself some hassle and stress of so much to wash after the fact. However, our extended family is very large with lots of kids so I'm thinking like a cookout or such with 20+ people. There's the bamboo/compostable plate and silverware so I would just try to go for that to offset some of the waste.

 

[S.J.]

My region no longer sells any single-use plastic straws, plates, bowls, cutlery, etc.

A bit off-topic, but stores also don't sell single-use or oxo-degradable plastic bags or polystyrene food packaging. The vegetable bags at the supermarket have also semi-recently changed to compostable, so they can be put in the organic waste bin. At least for the moment, shops are still allowed to use plastic lids (like on coffee cups) and plastic-lined disposable coffee cups.

Instead of plastic, the supermarkets now sell paper, sugar cane pulp or bamboo pulp plates, paper straws, and wooden or pulp cutlery. All of my dishes at home are glass, and I have a reusable cutlery set that I keep for work, but for large family functions people will often buy paper/pulp plates.

 

[Mr_Keroppi]

I hate them because they are flimsy or just feel bad?? I never like using any of that. I do not like any of it. I do like the paper plates that are firm though. I also like how some of them are made out of recyclable stuff so its good for the environment!!

 

[icefang]

we reuse our plastic wares. i understand the dislike for them, but they can serve a good purpose for people with certain physical disabilities that make it hard or unfeasible to use non-disposable ones in daily life. i personally prefer silverware, though, as it doesn't break as easily. awaiting the day we find a new, more eco-friendly method of making light and durable utensils for those who'd benefit from something like that.
as for plates, i prefer paper to any other disposable material, for obvious reasons.

edit: OH i forgot to mention, yes we do reuse the plates if possible. like wiping them down and stuff. sorry if the wording was vague towards the end, i'm tired.

 

[-Raven-]

That’s a confusing post but uh

Microplastics are VERY BAD so… I avoid using them but all of us are breathing in plastic :z

I never use them- I’ve never had to resort to them so far, my mom uses them a lot which makes me sad

Paper plates are relatively okay

 

[Kirbyz]

i chose i only use them if i absolutely have to, which is when my fam and all my relatives (we have like a million) have gatherings at one of those big parks and everyone brings a bunch of food/drinks/fruits and we hang there like a picnic. some of us bring plates and utensils for certain dishes that require them, otherwise there will be paper plates and plastic utensils which i also do not enjoy using, but majority of the food cannot be handheld so its either that or pizza is the only grab-able thing. thankfully we hardly ever have these outside gatherings so we have no other excuse to use disposable plates and utensils. even when we have big gatherings at each others houses we still use normal plates and utensils and just take turns washing them manually and run the rest through the dishwasher when fruit/dessert is served at the end.

 

[Bluebellie]

I don’t like plastic or paper plates at all. Overall real plates seem to be the better option. They help you save money, and they are better for the environment.

 

[Snek]

I like real plates and utensils rather than disposible ones. However, I don't mind using disposible ones if I'm at a social event or if I'm in a rush to eat. I save plastic utensils from restaurant deliveries so I can use them in case the silverware are all dirty.

 

[Aniko]

I don't use those unless they are given to me and there is no other choice, like street food, but I rarely eat outside, like not even once a year. Maybe more once every 5 years. I don't use straws. My relatives don't use them either but I know someone who doesn't like doing dishes and almost only use that. Must cost a lot of money. My reason for not using them is not only economic or environmental, since I'm little I don't like the feeling of paper and plastic plates and utensils. I'm very picky with dinnerware.

 

[JellyBeans]

like most people have said i only ever really use them if im handed one in certain scenarios eg large family event, street food etc. i don’t hate using them but obviously i prefer not to from an environmental standpoint. i don’t even remember the last time I specifically went out of my way to buy them

 

[Newbiemayor]

I don't really mind disposable plates and things personally. Although I do prefer paper to Styrofoam. But I prefer real silverware over the cheap flimsy plastic.

 

[SinnerTheCat]

I can understand some situations where it's convenient to use those type of stuff (party, takeaway food), but other than that I don't think I've ever had to use plastic/paper silverware, like at home for example