My party dishes are cheap acrylic ones from IKEA. I think each plate cost about $1.

Preserve makes durable recycled plastic utensils and dishware from yogurt containers, and they're having a sale! [link] They're dishwasher safe, too.

I also buy their toothbrushes - you can mail them back for recycling. eta omg they have a toothbrush subscription! Awesome.

javachik, have you looked into other ridematch programs beyond your neighborhood listserv? Let me know if you need/want help looking into options. You can be my job hunt expert and I can be your greener lifestyle consultant!

A bit. The problem is mostly that I never go straight to work and come home. You can imagine how difficult that is to coordinate with someone else. If I worked for Genentech, I could drive my car about 4 miles and meet their Green Bus that crosses the bridge. Sigh. I will figure something out. My boss is definitely more that "work from home more" type, but unfortunately not everyone at work shares her view.

We bought 75 acrylic plates and cups on sale (two for a dollar) from Sears a few years ago and use them for all of our parties, including our big Holiday open house. We have a dishwasher so we just pop them in there and put them away until the next party. No waste, no expense.

Yea--please don't become the people who came over for a party I was having, looked at the (admittedly plastic solo) disposable cups I had (it was a big new year's drinking party!) and disdainfully made environmental remarks, then went into my cupboard and grabbed their own cups...leaving me to wash them the next day! (When I already had to clean the whole apartment, wash the floor, deal with my hangover...)

Yeah...that's not my style. Usually when I am at someone's house, I actually wash the dishes and help clean-up. Generally speaking, houses are cleaner for me having been there, not the other way around.

I also buy their toothbrushes - you can mail them back for recycling. eta omg they have a toothbrush subscription! Awesome.

Now they just need electric ones with replaceable heads. (I have been told in no uncertain terms by my dentist that I *MUST* use an electric toothbrush or the plaque will take over my gums and I will need surgery. Sigh.)

I also do the cheap reusable party dishes - I think ours were something like $5/doz at le targe, although that may have been a clearance price. They do still take washing afterwards, but I live with myself more happily than I would with the garbage.

(I'm also inconsistent with my That Bitchness - I'm a hardass on some things and lazy and forgetful with others. Could probably use a bit of moderation on both ends. Sigh. )

Yeah, Scrappy and Jess, that's what I was hoping for (acrylic plates and cups) but I waited until the last minute to deal with dishware for a large party I had in May. So I ended up at Bed, Bath, and Beyond and the like, where they wanted like $3 a glass. I bought paper. But once the paper plates are gone, I'll be going that route.

Yea--please don't become the people who came over for a party I was having, looked at the (admittedly plastic solo) disposable cups I had (it was a big new year's drinking party!) and disdainfully made environmental remarks, then went into my cupboard and grabbed their own cups...leaving me to wash them the next day! (When I already had to clean the whole apartment, wash the floor, deal with my hangover...)

See, I would just ask people like that how often they replace their electronics, how often they fly, or what kind of car they drive, etc. Because, seriously, unless you really know people and their habits, it's pretty hard to judge how "green" they are.

Generally speaking, houses are cleaner for me having been there

You are welcome out here anytime!!!

I was so happy when our complex started recycling. After living in Alameda where we had green waste, food waste, and waste waste - no dividing up my trash was driving me nuts.