For more formal family gatherings, barbecues and picnics, paper plates are a popular choice. They are very convenient to use, hence a lot of people prefer them as they make cleaning after meals a breeze. Use them and discard immediately! But have you considered just how expensive those plates are to use? They not that cheap like you thought at all This text, will stir into the disposable plates usage and see if there are how of a better option, as well as affordable.
Initially, when you look at paper plates, they may very well appear to be a bargain. They are typically bundled in huge packs and each plate cost few pennies. However, there are hidden costs with using these plates that people do not consider before use. It requires a significant amount of energy as well as resources to manufacture paper plates. Which means it uses trees, water and chemistry. As a supporting element of cleaning the air on our planet, trees are an aspect that can't be taken lightly. Transportation and disposal of these plates can pollute the environment, which then affects our Earth as well as all living beings dependent on it.
Disposable plates are majorly harmful for our environment. In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that over 4 million tons of paper products including paper plates were disposed of. That is a huge amount! Of all these paper goods, only approximately 23% were recycled — the rest destined for landfills or to be incinerated. This, brings pollution to the atmosphere and greenhouse gases along with it, posing a threat to the planet.
The other thing which need to be considered about disposable plate is financial aspect. This may look like a low-cost solution to begin with; however, those are costs that can be easily high when we keep buying and throwing. Research suggests Americans discard 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour and 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups annually! Not only does waste contain harm the environment, it also becomes a burden on our pockets, because this is an extraordinary waste of materials and energy.
Real talk — When we think about whether paper plates or other options are more economical, you have to look at everything. The use of paper plates might appear as a cheap option, however, if you are using them consistently they can cost you quite a lot over time. As a case in point, reusable plates may be more pricey at the outset, but since you can use them over and again, they ultimately save you money. It saves you money in the long run because you won't have to keep buying new plates. Also, reusable plates are far more sustainable and they might even make your table look nicer!
Those small costs sure can add up over time, and that includes disposable plates. Splashing out on bulk paper plates may seem like a cost-saving measure, but when was the last time you actually purchased them? Are you wearing them on the daily or just for nice dinners? Frequent replacement of the disposable plates may well outweigh even just buying a set of re-usables. Though it sounds like a small cash out, you will save a significant amount if you start using reusable plates.
Using disposable plates can bring about a high price tag over the years. So, with more and more trash being dumped in the landfills, it becomes expensive to get rid of waste here too and it is transferred back to people in the form of higher taxes and fees. And the more lawn plates are used, the bigger damage to the surrounding atmosphere. Whatever it may cost our planet, like destroying forests to do some agriculture also decrece the necessary source for us to live such as clean air or water.