Do You Reuse Disposable Plastic Eating Utensils?

Yes, I do and my hubby hates them. He hates washing plastic utensils because after being used a few times they tend to weaken and snap when he washes them. But he hates throwing them in the garbage even more. I don't buy them very often and I only buy spoons when I do (to bring to work for my afternoon yogurt)and a package lasts me a couple of months because I reuse and reuse until they break. I think if they are washed properly, they are sanitary to reuse.

I save them every now and then. i clean them really well and use them a few times then throw them away. I am really into recycling now because of penny pinching and green wise.

The real good one we wash real good and use them again we usually use them for borthday partys!

Yes, I do reuse. I find they're very handy for picnics and such. There's no reason why, when washed, they can't be used again. I find they come in particularly useful when you're taking packed food out with you, and as you say, such a waste to be used once and then thrown away and recycled. Brightest Blessings.

Hi cassandra, Yes I can't throw them away and use them for all sorts of things in my kitchen, I only have about five plastic teasppons anyway. Tamara

I'm like you I can't bear to just throw it out, but it usually ends up in the back of the cupboard and is forgotten, I know this doesn't make any sense.

I reuse mine actually I have gotten to where I will basically only use the plastic ones now. My hubby will use the metal ones but I like my plastic ones better. I put them in a zip-lock bag except for the few that I have left out for me. And I use them at parties and dinners I have since I might not have enough silverware for all. I think it is okay to reuse them and for the sanitary part. All we have to do is add a cap full of bleach to a cup of water that the silverware have been added to..kills the germs and other pesky things..

We used to always reuse our plastic utensils, mostly because we couldn't afford to keep rebuying them. It was always a pain because my mom would have us dig through the trashcans and get them back out. We'd be like trash police and stop people who were throwing them away. It was such a hassle. Now, I just throw them out - even though a lot of people will ask if we save them or they'll just bring them into the sink. It's not a financial issue for us, but we use them for the convenience. It's probably not one of the best things for the environment but I think it's too much hassle to try to always reuse them.

We tend to wash and reuse them. We have a nice supply of them in the family van for picnics out (in case we forget to put utensils in the bag!). Lately, I've been using the ones I've saved from the few meals I ate while volunteering from November-December as plant lables! I just put a bit of tape with the plant's name on 'em, stick the fork or spoon eating-side down in the dirt, and that's it. It's been useful, as we've been in need of tons of lables this year. We ended up cutting up old milk jugs, after we ran out of the plastic utensils. It is wasteful to throw them away, and if you wash them...then they're not unsanitary or dangerous anymore.

I think I only have one or two and I do save them in case I need them for something later on. I rarely eat off them but who knows, maybe I'll need them for a painting craft or something. [b]~~AT PEACE WITHIN~~ **STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS**[/b]

Well to be honest I just haven't had any occasion to use plastic utensils in ages, but if I did I would most certainly reuse them. And no, if you clean them well they should be all right to re-use. In fact, I'm kind of a fanatic about reusing/recycling just about anything and everything. For instance I had this rather large tub-like container thing that I stored old papers in. Well, one day I managed to go through it and discovered a lot of papers I just didn't need anymore...in fact all of them. Now I could have thrown the container out, but decided to "recycle" it by making a bed for one of my cats and placed an old pillow of mine in it...did the same for a cardboard box for my other cat. Now the two are happy campers having their own beds and didn't have to spend a fortune for a manufactured cat bed. There is a "thing" though that they think it's dangerous to reuse those small plastic drinking bottles for water. That the chemicals from the plastic can leech into the water or beverage the older the bottle is--did a whole article about this very thing

It all depends.. If i'm taking away food to eat at home, i will still be eating with plastic utensils and after which, i will throw it away.. haha =D But there are times whereby i find it easier to eat with metal ones, and so i will keep aside those placstic utensils instead ^_^ However, i will not wash them and reuse as they are meant to be disposable.. lol =D Besides that, it's not healthy to reuse those same plastic things for more than 2 times ^_^

the last couple of times i have used them they came with food i bought at fast food or something and they were so cheaply made i was lucky i got through the meal with out them breaking in my mouth.. if they were in good shape i might but so far i havent been running into those and i dont buy them personally

I don't think there is anything wrong at all with reusing the plastic containers, in fact we should all be doing this. I personally do reuse as much as I can and then if I feel they are worn out, I put them in the recycling bin. There is nothing dangerous or un-sanitary about reusing, do not worry.

I reuse plastic utensils. My husband and I often take them with our lunches. I wash and reuse them for as long as we can. I don't like to throw them away either. I feel it's wasteful too!

We used to reuse them. My husband would take them in his lunch when he needed an eating utensil for his food.

Saving plastic utensils and plastic containers seem not only sanitary if cleaned right but very environmentally friendly. However, would you save your paper plates? My mom's ex would go as far as to dig into the can and pull out paper plates we had thrown away and rinse them off. Why he would do this when he could just use his regular plates and wash those made no sense to me. The paper plates absorb nasty things and the whole point of buying them is to throw them out. What do you think?

I sometimes reuse plastic utensils, but I always try to just use metal ones when possible. As long as they are washed well I think it's safe and sanity to reuse. It's a shame to throw something away after only one brief use!

I don't see anything wrong with reusing them for crafts but not to eat off of. Plastic holds germs even if you do wash them. In my opinion it's dangerous to reuse them to eat off of.

I do reuse disposable utensils. It's earth friendly and it is also useful. I just washed them properly and then I could use it again,