apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

We like to use enamelware plates for camping and picnics since they look nice, don't break, and are reusable. I can see where these plates would be of value though, especially for a large party. I wonder how sturdy they are?

wow, that's pretty cool!

my office has switched to i believe a potato/starch based disposable utensils for our nightly dinner buffet. maybe even the plates, too. they work fine, are no sturdier or flimsier than your average plastic utensil.

Until you get to the soup... We switched to corn starch utensils in our caf and had to switch a portion of the spoons back because the starch ones were melting. Most hot food they do just fine, but the prolonged contact with hot liquid seems to be a bit much for them.

At Ohio University (where I'm about ready to graduate from) our food courts use Biodegradable service ware made from sugar cane, potato starch, and corn plastic or PLA to be disposed in compost bins.

http://www.facilities.ohiou.edu/conservation/Compost.htm

sar3j, we tried these out at a big birthday barbecue recently, and they held up really well. I'd say they're about as sturdy as Royal Chinet.

Jen - I assume you mean for Grab 'n' Go? Do they not still use real silverware in the dining halls?
Funny, I'm coming down next weekend - woo!

i think these are cool, and definitely so much better than paper or plastic, but saying they are 'fully compostable' is a little misleading. it takes a year in a commercial composting facility for them to fully compost.

that doesn't take away from their using otherwise unused resources. maybe it's ok to burn them after you use them? toss them in the bbq maybe?

what about Preserve http://www.recycline.com/ These plates, cups and utensils are all made from #5 recycled plastics...they used left over yogurt containers to make tableware that is not only non-toxic but dishwasher safe and recyclable....so they recycle product into recyclable product...kinda cool

@oofs - Interesting - I'd read 90 days in home composters, and 30 days in commercial composters. Where'd you hear a year?

ninac - i don't know! i'm trying to find it now and i can't. i think that i might have gotten confused, because i was looking at a bunch of stuff when i was researching this. like plates made of other materials. maybe it is the corn plastic? thanks for the correction.

i'm actually really glad to realize that, though i don't have access to a compost system of any sort. city living.

den - preserve is cool, but #5 plastic isn't recyclable everywhere. i mean, i guess some places don't recycle at all, but i know we do plastic here, but not that kind.