Do you wash and re-use plastic forks, knives & spoons?

[Crazy Dave]

I do and people accuse me of being crazy, cheap, or both. There's definitely no financial savings to it and I don't do it all the time like at picnics or cookouts, but when I used to bring my lunch to work I'd bring home the plastic utensils, wash them, then use them again two, three times or until the forks broke. It just seems so wasteful to throw them away after only one use if it's okay and convenient to use them again.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. I'd call you frugal.

Frugal is not a pejorative term. It means 'characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources.' If there is an easy way to reuse them, why not?

[Crazy Dave]

2. I agree with that

Here in Florida where water is abundant and land is scarce versus and area like Arizona where land is plentiful but water is not may make you conserve in different ways. Washing plastic forks and rinsing out plastic bottles to recycle could be counter productive as far as trying to be resourceful in a dry area but down here it doesn't seem to make sense not to :hi:

[LaurenG]

3. I do

and those at work are often envious as I'm the only one with eating utensils here!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. Good morning, my dear DaveTheWave!

When I was working, and my lunch required the use of utensils, I'd just take my own silverware......

And when I was done eating, I'd just put them back into the container the food had been in......

Take 'em home, and wash 'em ........ready for the next time!

I didn't bother with plastic utensils at all..........

But...if I had.......I'd be doing the same you are.........


:hi:

[auntAgonist]

5. all the time!

I take lunch to work and the cafeteria (which is closed at night grrr) has a counter top with condiments etc on it but the cutlery bin is always empty. I take my lunch, buy my own plastic ware and and take it home to wash and re-use. I buy the heavier duty kind, clear plastic and it would be shameful to send them to the landfill!

aA
kesha

[Mutley]

6. Yup.

I bought a bunch of plastic utensils a few years ago when I had a party, and kept everything that hadn't been used. I'm down to the last few at this point as most of them have been lost, thrown away or broken.

I felt the same way — it seemed wasteful to use them once and throw them away.

[liontamer]

7. yes. It's not like they magically turn into flowers once they're in

a landfill.
Reduce Reuse Recycle

[1gobluedem]

8. Often, yes

Especially if it's the nice thick kind. I also wash and reuse plastic bags on occasion and the plastic containers from the grocery store.

[Bridget Burke]

9. Good ideas.

I'll reuse plastic bags & containers, depending on what they originally held. Muffins in the freezer? OK! A steak in the freezer? Nope.

I also admit I'll use cleaned plastic containers to store leftovers. That way, if I wait too long to clean the refrigerator, the whole container can go in the trash unopened.

[Crazy Dave]

11. The butter type, plastic spread containers do work good...

...don't they? Every now and then we have to clean out the kitchen cabinets when they get too full. One time a friend of mine actually sold several dozen margarine type, plastic containers at her yard sale for $0.50

[Rude Horner]

10. It depends on where I am

If I'm at a picnic or something - no. I don't feel like walking around with a fork or knive in my pocket. But if I'm at home and it's quality plastic - yes.

Now my MOTHER is frugal. She re-uses Christmas tree tinsel.

[Crazy Dave]

13. "re-uses Christmas tree tinsel"

Our family used to. We probably had some of the same tinsel for over 10 years.
Now, we don't have a traditional Christmas tree as our cats won't allow it.

[Ravenseye]

12. I don't use utensils

God gave us hands, a mouth, and teeth. If I can't eat it with what I was born with, then it's not worth the time. Utensils are just a way for the neo-con's to oppress us. ;)

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. All the time. Otherwise this wife and mother would go broke just

making lunches the whole school/work year through. :hi:

[WCGreen]

15. I gotta whole drawer full.....

I try to use 'em at least three or four times so that I at least put a pebble in the waste stream and divert some tiny fraction of resources away from the trash heap...

[tjwmason]

16. The last time I used platic cutlery was on an aeroplane

where there wasn't much choice.

Otherwise I don't use them at all. I have perfectly good metal ones at home and at work.

[ThomCat]

17. I do.

Who wants to add unnecessary stuff to landfills?

[Rabrrrrrr]

18. People who have any shred of respect for the earth and other people do.

Using plasticware, when not absolutely essential, is an act of immoral and unethical self-centeredness that is difficult to equal; to then just throw it away is pure Americanism.

[Oeditpus Rex]

19. Holy socks!

Other people do this? I'm not weird? :woohoo:

My ex started with plastic cutlery some years ago when the dishwasher was screwed up. We'd just throw 'em out, but when I became a bachelor again I thought, "Yeah, like these things are gonna decompose?" (I thought that with my ex, too, but between her and her three kids chuckin' 'em in the garbage, it felt like trying to hold back a tidal wave with a rake.)

I just do not want to stick 'em in the ground where they'll remain for a brazillion years. x(

As for why I use 'em in the first place? Habit, I guess. Well, plus the option — you don't have to re-use 'em. They're just more convenient, or something. :shrug:

[jobycom]

20. Pshh. I rarely wash metal forks, knives, & spoons. A little crud adds

flavor and mystery to any tv dinner.