Is it cost effective to use disposable plates/cups v.s. dishes and dishwasher

[steppinthrax]

I was hearing this from lots of people. They say it's more cost affective. I haven't actually done a cost benefit analysis of this. But I think it think the only benefit is electicity for the dishwasher. But I think that would be the major cost. Any of you guys know outright if it is cheaper to do this???

 

[rocadelpunk]

what about hand washing your dishes?

I want poahl.

 

[Jeff7]

Don't forget to try putting a price on things like increased resource consumption and trash generation.

 

[rivan]

There would be the electricity and soap for the dishwasher (since there's a heating element, it might use more electricity than you'd think).

I can't imagine, in the long run, that it would be cheaper. And it's certainly not environmentally responsible - although I recall reading somewhere that ceramics (ala plates, bowls, coffee cups, etc) have a pretty heavy environmental footprint.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: rocadelpunk
what about hand washing your dishes?

I want poahl.

I'm looking at the idea of convienence as well.

 

[steppinthrax]

Originally posted by: rivan
There would be the electricity and soap for the dishwasher (since there's a heating element, it might use more electricity than you'd think).

I can't imagine, in the long run, that it would be cheaper. And it's certainly not environmentally responsible - although I recall reading somewhere that ceramics (ala plates, bowls, coffee cups, etc) have a pretty heavy environmental footprint.

I guess I need to determine the amount of electricity the dishwasher uses. It's a newer type of washer. I think I might be able to find out. But I can go to wallmart and get a cheap bag of plates for less then 5 or so.... I hope I don't have to put a meter on the dishwasher.

 

[Xavier434]

I think it greatly depends on your washer. Older washers and some newer washers with a bunch of fancy bells and whistles use more power than the new plain vanilla washers.

Regardless, the difference is probably very minimal even in the long run. The bottom line here is that you will either be using disposables for convenience at the expense of the environment or you will use a washer which might cost you a little bit of extra loose change and more importantly time.

Personally, I use a bit of both.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: rivan
There would be the electricity and soap for the dishwasher (since there's a heating element, it might use more electricity than you'd think).

I can't imagine, in the long run, that it would be cheaper. And it's certainly not environmentally responsible - although I recall reading somewhere that ceramics (ala plates, bowls, coffee cups, etc) have a pretty heavy environmental footprint.

Of course, they have a one-time footprint, versus a lasting impact of plastic or paper, though the latter should have less impact.

Originally posted by: steppinthrax
I guess I need to determine the amount of electricity the dishwasher uses. It's a newer type of washer. I think I might be able to find out. But I can go to wallmart and get a cheap bag of plates for less then 5 or so.... I hope I don't have to put a meter on the dishwasher.

There should be a label on it somewhere that indicates the normal current rating.

 

[Modelworks]

How are you going to prepare your food ?
Can't cook everything in paper and plastic.

If your going to have to wash a pot or pan, might as well wash the plates too.
Use the sink, cheaper than any other way.
Dishwasher uses lots more electric , motor, heating element, timer.
sink just uses hot water.

Power usage is going to be over 1000 watts , the heating element requires it, theres no way around that .

 

[thomsbrain]

Dishwashers don't use that much power if you run the hot water in the sink first to get the pipes warm. The element only comes on to heat water that is too cold. If you do that and don't use the heated dry, it's just a pump and one or two slow motors. Of course, you are still paying for the hot water from your water heater. But even then, dishwashers use less water than hand washing. Besides, you just have a better eating experience off a real plate, and if you're going to run the dishwasher to wash pans and cooking utensils anyway, it doesn't use any more energy to put your plates in there, too.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Dishwashers don't use that much power if you run the hot water in the sink first to get the pipes warm. The element only comes on to heat water that is too cold. If you do that and don't use the heated dry, it's just a pump and one or two slow motors. Of course, you are still paying for the hot water from your water heater. But even then, dishwashers use less water than hand washing. Besides, you just have a better eating experience off a real plate, and if you're going to run the dishwasher to wash pans and cooking utensils anyway, it doesn't use any more energy to put your plates in there, too.

They also use the heating element to dry the dishes and drip dry makes the dishes look awful.
I have a hard time beleiving that they use less water than using a sink.
Sink will always be cheaper.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: Modelworks

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
Dishwashers don't use that much power if you run the hot water in the sink first to get the pipes warm. The element only comes on to heat water that is too cold. If you do that and don't use the heated dry, it's just a pump and one or two slow motors. Of course, you are still paying for the hot water from your water heater. But even then, dishwashers use less water than hand washing. Besides, you just have a better eating experience off a real plate, and if you're going to run the dishwasher to wash pans and cooking utensils anyway, it doesn't use any more energy to put your plates in there, too.

They also use the heating element to dry the dishes and drip dry makes the dishes look awful.
I have a hard time beleiving that they use less water than using a sink.
Sink will always be cheaper.

Perhaps...but by how much is the real question? I feel I could cover the difference in cost with a pocket full of loose change over the course of a week at most. The convenience is well worth that cost. Combining the convenience of both the dishwasher and disposable stuff is the best. The time that it saves as opposed to hand washing everything all of the time is well worth it.

 

[mugs]

Who cares? The cost difference is negligible at best. I'd rather use a real plate and not feel like white trash.

 

[Canai]

Originally posted by: rivan
There would be the electricity and soap for the dishwasher (since there's a heating element, it might use more electricity than you'd think).

I can't imagine, in the long run, that it would be cheaper. And it's certainly not environmentally responsible - although I recall reading somewhere that ceramics (ala plates, bowls, coffee cups, etc) have a pretty heavy environmental footprint.

Ceramics stay around for a long, long time. What's the most commonly found artifact of previous civilizations? Pottery shards.

 

[OutHouse]

the only time we use paper plates is when we order out like pizza or KFC. we make it a no dish night hahahah

 

[tidehigh]

drinking wine out of plastic cups

eating steak on paper plates

not only is that lame, chicks will dig you

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

There would be the electricity and soap for the dishwasher (since there's a heating element, it might use more electricity than you'd think).

I can't imagine, in the long run, that it would be cheaper. And it's certainly not environmentally responsible - although I recall reading somewhere that ceramics (ala plates, bowls, coffee cups, etc) have a pretty heavy environmental footprint.

Most dishwashers you can turn off the stupid heating element, since it's pretty pointless - well, at least the heated drying part.

And no OP, disposables is NOT cheaper unless you're a moron. But then your brain is disposable. Get some fucking hand soap and hand wash all your dishes if you're really that worried.


edit: Holy necro bump thread.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Don't they melt?

If you're serving dry food like pretzels on a paper plate/bowl, it's not, imo, dirty and you can probably just shake it off and reuse it later.