Paper cups and plates...

I make sure to get the biodegradable type. I do worry about the tons of trash and garbage we leave behind.

for that madam... Thanks...

I agree with CatGods and Mavic123456, yeah it's biodegradable type, but you're still using too much paper everyday. More demands on paper means more trees that we have to cut off. A single meal set, with one or two spoons, forks, plates, bowls and glasses, I don't think you'll be wasting too much water to wash them... don't you think so?

OOPS! Now I am embarassed, sid! I only DO dishes once every 3 days..that is only 3 plates, 3 sets of cutlery, 3 bowls..etc, with a few related pots and pans. Rinse after use and stack in sink (the beauty of living alone..haha!) Sounds like I am lazy..but NO, I don't see the necessity of that task as a daily occurence. Days OFF from work, I cook for the week..then there is a big MESS! And that day only takes me about 1/2 hour to take control! I TRULY believe the word "biodegradable" is a misnomer and a term loosely tossed about by manufacturer's..20 to 30 years...and what is the residual effects? I truly hate plastics! All your statements are truly bonafide!!!

Aww don't be embarrassed Pergammano. If it was just me here and I only had a few dishes, I would probably wait until they built up enough to make it worthwhile to even run the hot water. I have my daughter and grandson here with me and they pile up a lot quicker than if I were alone. When I was here by my lonesome for a short little while, trust me...Vacuuming got done once a week and dishes were not done every day.

Oh and I agree with the biodegradable term! It is more than likely being put into a plastic trash bag so who cares if it is biodegradable. Even if the bag itself were biodegradable, they don't tell you how long this process takes and it doesn't matter. If we are all adding to it daily, it will always be a constant and on-going problem. It isn't like when you throw a banana out onto the ground and you know it is going to either get eaten by an animal or mesh with the earth rather quickly and it won't be harmful. Im pretty sure(not positive) that styrofoam must have chemicals in it that are not good even IF biodegradable. I hate plastics too.

@CatGods...GOOD ON YOU! I am so happy to have run across this discussion...You, sid and I (now wilsongoddard) seem to be the few that is concerned about the stewardship of this earth. The "buzzword" biodegradable is misleading, and a misnomer...Anything that breaks down in a lifetime (don't know whose?) is considered biodegradable...HUH? Chemical complex that leeches! Thank you, CatGods, for taking a firm stance!

Bravo! Vinegar is my lifeline! Procter and Gamble, Johnson & Johnson...(some of the richest companies in the world) would GO broke if it were for the likes of us! I think my biggest challenge is to change a few mindsets and hopefully this discussion and your input, has changed just one!

I agree with the use of natural cleaners, and wish many other people would as well. Chemicals are not natural, and they are extremely bad for our health. You are right in what you say about these chemicals. Many people have gotten environmental health disorders, where they cannot even go near household cleaners without getting an asthma attack. Pesticide use in apartment complexes also causes asthma in poor children there. Organic and home use, all the way.

CatGods not everyone That uses paper products at meal time is lazy or careless about the environment. Before you jump to conclusions you should look at other reasons some of us use paper products. My family we use paper plates because it is hard for me to handle dishes that need to be washed up. it is also hard for me to stand very long to do the washing up. So hurrah for paper products. I don't like adding to the lad fills but I also don't like pain.

cat g ods when my son a nd i shared an apt we were always runing into our dumpster being overflowing before it was picked up so now imagine if all one hundred families all started sing paper goods exclusively the fifty dumpsters would be overflowing long before they were ordinarily. so no a pox on added paper stuff to the dumpsters that were already overstuffed. I never used paper goods as I wanted to feel I owed it to my self to have a nice plate and glass even if I was all alone.

hi catgods good thinking as to begin with having to buy a lot of paper goods would cost much more than just washing the few things I dirtied making my meals along and oh my gosh the garbage that creates. where we were we had maybe fifty dumpsters and over a hundred families in out gated apt complex and they were always full before pick up time so if all who cooked alone also used all paper goods it would have made it ten times worse.Too when you go that route you start to eat wrongly too and as a diabetic I could not afford to not eat right. no I did not mind washing up for one person.Also a lot of paper plates would not have held up under some of my pasta meals like spaghetti and meat balls. lol I do niot think a lot of plastic coated paper goods breaks down all that fast either.

very wise Nursefrai for one so young.

Sadly, this world needs so much more education! One just needs to visit just ONE PULP Paper mill to see the amount of chemicals and toxins it takes to Bleach Wood Pulp and make it aesthetically pleasingly white! The vapours from these chemicals are openly leeched into the environment! You demand more Paper Plates...you demand more use of these toxins.