Hey guys what is worse?

Question

Using a dishwasher to clean glass cups or using plastic cups you throw away? Because dishwashers use alot of water, use electricity, and use bad chemicals. But throwing away plastic/paper cups gets in landfills

Answer 1

Depends what your area is scarce on.  If you're in Michigan, land of lakes, water is plentiful.

But you know, plastic cups are made of petroleum, and that means higher prices for fuel.

Answer 2

paper and plastic can be recycled with out the use of much if any fossil fuel

Answer 3

BOTH are not green,sorry

you CAN reuse plastic cups - wash and keep them. i do that.

well, if i were you, i wouldnt use a dishwasher unless i have a huge restaurant. id rather wash the glass cups myself, besides you'll have fun getting wet occasionally

Answer 4

It is not just a matter of plastic cups in the land fill, it is also the energy that use used to produce those plastic cups, while at least paper cups are biodegradable.

If you want to save energy, and a dishwasher, instead of hand washing, you should just make sure the the dishwasher is full when you use it.

hand washing is not that much harder than rinsing the dishes before putting them in the dishwasher.

Answer 5

What is the worst thing...  wasting your time worrying about this.

Answer 6

look in your kitchen you will see a silver dish in the counter top with a tap on it ,fill it with hot water a dish soap and wash the dishes by hand then dry them great concept,instead of a dishwasher.There is no need for plastic utensils to be thrown away you can wash then to and reuse.

Answer 7

i think using plastic cups is better cause electricity uses coal and burning it creates fumes.

hope this helps

Answer 8

The plastic cups are worse.  You can always use phosphate free dish soap in your dishwasher, this is much better for the environment.

Answer 9

throwing away  the soap goes to the sewage plant and is treated

Answer 10

Using plastic cups you throw away. If you think it is the dishwasher you have lost all perspective of what is a big problem and what is small.

Answer 11

Great question! Using a dish washer is much better. Most dishwashers are build for energy efficiency, and the energy any dishwasher uses is minimal. Also, don't forget that to create a plastic cup, energy must be used that would otherwise not be used if people were only using reusable cups. Hope this helps!

P.S. Although what you said about using electricity causing coal to be burned is generally true, many households in the U.S. are powered by alternative energy sources which pollute less than coal.

Answer 12

I agree with the people that think dishwashers are better to use, they certainly use less energy then all of what it takes to make a plastic cup and deliver them to the stores!  

And I order my dish washing detergent from a "green" company that carries many green products for the home.  And it's cheaper than buying these kind of products in the stores.  If you want more information, email me at

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