zerowaste

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Discussing ways to reduce waste and build community!

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Compostable dishes vs washing dishes (slrpnk.net)

submitted 10 months ago by RideAgainstTheLizard@slrpnk.net to c/zerowaste@slrpnk.net

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Many cafés and fast food places these days provide disposable dishes and cutlery when you're eating in. This used to infuriate me, but it seems to be improving slightly now as the trend has moved towards using compostable dishes instead of plastic ones.

However, it's still waste. It makes me wonder, what is more costly in the long run? Providing customers with compostable items or running hot dishwashers and using soap and water all day to reuse dishes?

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[–] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

A lot of water and machinery is used in paper production. I'd bet the dishwasher beats any compostable on water usage amortised over its 15 year life, presuming it's usually run pretty full

[–] tehWrapper@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I could see that, but still think reusable plates hand washed would prob use less than both.

Hopefully someone down the road breaks down some numbers on total cost and not the final stretch once all this stuff is made.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Hand washing uses more water than dishwashers

[–] tehWrapper@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

How much water and power does getting all the materials and making a dish washer use?

[–] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I don't know, but it's amortised over the life of the machine so surely pretty low. Dishwashers last quite a while

[–] tehWrapper@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Avg is 9 to 12 years

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

One of mine lasted 20 years

[–] tehWrapper@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Guessing the oldest one. 😉