Americans: Why do you use so many paper plates? - Page 3

BFOJ · #21 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiva_TD

One myth is that recycling paper is a good thing. Generally speaking more energy and costs are involved in recycling paper than producing it from scratch from tree farms dedictated to that purpose.

Good point. Have you ever used recycling paper in a LaserJet printer? Jam city...

teeko · #22 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008, 10:13 AM

I use reclycled paper plates sometimes when I have a lot of pots to wash.
And put them in my recycle container. You want to save the trees used for paper, Stop using toilet paper it is the paper product made by tree farms.
There is newspaper corn cobs rags just a few suggestions.

BFOJ · #23 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teeko

I use reclycled paper plates sometimes when I have a lot of pots to wash.
And put them in my recycle container. You want to save the trees used for paper, Stop using toilet paper it is the paper product made by tree farms.
There is newspaper corn cobs rags just a few suggestions.

If in the woods, leaves work just fine. Just ensure they aren't poison ivy as a buddy of mind found out the hard way.

When I was on a ship in the Navy, the officers heads always had toilet paper, the enlisted heads did not always, so we used newspapers as teeko suggested. Just got to keep your fingernails extra clean though.

Glinda · #24 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shiva_TD

I believe you are dealing with very outdated information. Very little energy is used in creating these forests or harvesting them. The trees are used exclusively for paper products and go directly to modern pulp mills which are very energy efficient. The paper industry has cleaned up it's prior polluting practices because of environmental laws. And paper in land fills does not create pollution and newer land fills are being used for methane production.

I'd be interested in seeing documentation that fully details the ecological impact of making paper plates (manufacturing costs plus water/electricity/fossil fuel use costs, pollution aspects of each phase of production, etc.).

In addition, I'm interested in hearing more about these energy-efficient pulp mills. Given that the pulp and paper industry is the one of the largest industrial consumers of energy, drastic reductions in their energy use should have significant impact on the environment and economy.

Inferno · #25 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008, 12:21 PM

They are simply a nice at times. They are easy and I don't have to wash them.

White Fox · #26 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008, 01:13 PM

I don't.

It's actually cheaper to use reusable dishes and to buy a dishwasher to wash them with. Even when you need to go on a picnic or something, you can take water to wash them off and then take them home and wash them properly.

Shiva_TD · #27 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glinda

I'd be interested in seeing documentation that fully details the ecological impact of making paper plates (manufacturing costs plus water/electricity/fossil fuel use costs, pollution aspects of each phase of production, etc.).

In addition, I'm interested in hearing more about these energy-efficient pulp mills. Given that the pulp and paper industry is the one of the largest industrial consumers of energy, drastic reductions in their energy use should have significant impact on the environment and economy.

Glad to give you a good link which addresses many of your concerns and one specific quotation on energy usage:

Quote:

From the early 1970s to the mid-1990s, the industry reduced oil consumption by nearly 66 percent and natural gas consumption by 10 percent while increasing production capacity by 60 percent. Some mills even generate excess power and sell it back to local utilities.

http://www.answers.com/topic/pulp-mill

Makedde · #28 (**permalink**) 10-19-2008, 07:58 PM

The only time I use paper plates is when I have a lot of people over. Other than that there is no need for them, it creates too much waste.

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