Reduce Paper Plate Waste

According to Greenyour.com, offices consume disposable plates, cups, and cutlery for meetings and conferences and every day lunch breaks. The average 2,500-person conference will produce waste to the tune of 75,000 disposable cups, 87,500 paper napkins, and 90,000 cans or bottles. In an average year, most office workers throw out 500 disposable cups!

How many paper cups and plates from your home make it to the recycling bin? Most waste is needless given all used paper cups and plates can be recycled if cleaned. Dirty paper bowls and plates that are uncoated are approved for composting. Also, choosing reusable dishes and flatware can go a long way to cutting overall trash. Even a small change like using pitchers instead of water bottles could make a huge difference over time.

Try these helpful tips to start reducing your home or office kitchen waste today:

• Serve guests drinks in pitchers instead of using wasteful plastic bottles
• Choose dishes and cutlery made from recycled content
• Use a reusable mug for coffee and take reusable dishes when you have to eat on-the-go
• Recycle as many paper products as you can from fast food and takeout

For a relatable story of how one woman stopped an addiction to paper plates, read "Guilt on a Paper Plate " by Larissa Kosmos, guest blogger for the NYTimes.