Paper, Plastic or...?

The other day I had a thought: when people have larger parties, such as a Graduation or Anniversary Open House, why do they use paper plates and disposable cutlery? Wouldn't such a special event warrant some "nice" dishes to eat from and drink out of? After all, when was the last time you ate off a paper plate at a wedding? Is it because a wedding is usually catered, and the caterer provides the dishes? Or is a wedding officially the last event left where it is socially unacceptable to use anything but "real" dishes?

When I still lived in Germany, there were companies that would rent out dishes and silverware. I wonder how a service like this would go over in this country? Is it simply cheaper to buy disposable plates and cutlery? Or is it the "convenience factor" of being able to dispose off all the dirty dishes in the nearest trash can? What if there was a company who would deliver clean tableware to your house the day of your event and pick up the dirty dishes the following day? All you'd have to do is scrape off the food leftovers, stack the dirty dishes in a special crate, bag the dirty silverware and wait for the pickup? How much would a service like this be worth to you?

 

Comments

[Alison Ambrose]

This is the norm in the UK. There are many companies that rent plates, dishes, flatware etc. All of the major supermarket (grocery store) chains rent out glasses for free. Whenever somebody is having a party they just go to the Safeway equivalent and reserve the glasses. You just pay a deposit in case of any breakages. Alison