I was curious as to what the cost difference was when considering the use of reusable plates over paper plates (and likewise, for reusable bowls vs. paper bowls). I really thought there would be more savings for washing plates instead of using and tossing them.
Initial Costs
I decided to compare the costs of both. Paper plates usually have a low upfront cost. A pack of them may be inexpensive but you can usually only use them once. Meanwhile, reusable plates have a higher initial cost since you need to buy enough for your family or whatever event you may be hosting.
Ongoing Costs
Because you dispose of the plates, you will need to buy more paper plates regularly, which can add up over time. There could potentially be additional costs associated with garbage disposal if you generate a lot of waste with your paper products. However, you will be washing your reusable plates which can add up as well. This includes the cost of water, detergent, and electricity or gas for hot water. There is also the cost of a dishwasher if you use one, including its maintenance and energy usage.
Environmental Considerations
If you are trying to be more environmentally friendly consider that paper plates generate more waste and use up resources such as trees, water, and energy for manufacturing and transportation. Reusable plates use up resources to produce and clean, but they can be more environmentally friendly in the long run if used many times.
Cost Comparison Over Time
Let's look at costs over a year for a hypothetical household using each type of plate.
Paper plate cost: $0.05 each.
Four members make up a family. 365 days x 2 plates per day = 2,920 plates per year.
The whole yearly cost comes to $146 ( 2,920 plates x $0.05/plate).
Reusable plate cost: Since each individual need at least two plates, figure on $5 per plate.
In this case, 8 plates total (4 people x 2 plates) are needed.
$8 plates * $5 per plate = $40 is the initial expenditure (one-time).
If you add in cost of washing reusable plates, assume that the cost of each wash, including water, detergent, and electricity, is $0.10 per plate. Suppose that every plate is cleaned once a day: 8, plates times 365 days in a year is 2,920 washes. The total cost of washing per year is $292 ( 2,920 washes * $0.10 per wash).
Depending on what your goals are and how much time and effort you want to spend in getting plates, you may choose one over the other. Paper plates may seem cheaper with an annual cost of $146 versus the combined initial and washing cost for reusable plates ($40 + $292 = $332). After the first year, the cost of paper plates remains at $146/year, whereas the cost of reusable plates drops to $292/year since the initial purchase is a one-time cost.
I like Amazon Basics paper plates because you can get them a little cheaper than the name brand kind when you buy them via Subscribe and Save. They will give you up to 15% off the cost which brings it down to $.05 per plate in a pack of 100.
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