Disposable dishes are a great alternative to standard dishes for many catering businesses and some restaurants. While most people think of flimsy paper or foam plates when they think of disposable, there is actually a wide variety of sturdy and classy disposable dishes available on the market.

There are a few things to consider before you decide on and purchase disposable dishes. First, determine who your largest customer base is. Also keep cost in mind, spending more than you need on disposable plates can eat into your profit. Consider making the most of disposable plates with the following information:

1. Look into biodegradable disposable dinner plates for crowds that are conscious about the environment.

2. Use elegant disposable plates for catering formal events like weddings.

3. Purchase disposable plates from wholesale vendors to keep a ceiling on cost.

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Choose biodegradable disposable dinner plates that are made from renewable resources

Manufacturers make biodegradable dishes from a variety of renewable resources, such as potatoes, corn and bamboo. With biodegradable dishes, you can either throw them in the trash to decompose at a landfill or add them to a compost pile, so they turn into soil. Disposable dishes that are biodegradable are significantly more expensive than traditional disposable dishes, so consider the effect this will have on your overall meal pricing.

I recommend: At the FoodReference.com website you will find articles on earth friendly disposable dishes. Learn which type of biodegradable single-use plates are the best for the environment. CaterStock.com carries biodegradable disposable dishes. The company works with small, independent caterers.

Use elegant disposable plates for classy catering venues

Disposable dinner plates have come a long way from flimsy paper and foam. There are many disposable dinner plates on the market that look like dishes you would use for fine dining. This type of disposable plate is a great choice for catering, as it makes for easy clean up and there is no worry about dishes breaking during transportation. High-end disposable plastic plates have the closest resemblance to real China than any other disposable dishes.

I recommend: A suggestion of which types of plates to provide for different types of meals is available at Catering Supplies. This is also a retail site that sells a variety of disposable plastic plates in different sizes and colors. Country Clean Paper Supplies is a restaurant supply store that sells elegant disposable dishes. It has a large variety of disposable plates in different shapes, sizes and colors.

Keep it inexpensive with wholesale disposable dishes

Money is a factor that you cannot ignore when it comes to choosing a disposable plate. You will ultimately need to reflect the cost of the dishes in your prices. There are many wholesale providers available to purchase disposable dishes from. Look for vendors that have a variety to choose from, so you can cover all of your disposable dish needs at one place.

I recommend: A good resource for purchasing wholesale disposable plates is Paper Goods Direct. It has a vast variety of disposable plates from standard paper and plastic to elegant disposable plastic plates. ReStockIt.com has a variety of disposable paper plates for sale at wholesale prices. It offers free shipping for orders that reach a qualifying dollar amount.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You can actually wash and reuse some disposable plastic plates. Get more bang for your buck by reusing these plates two or three times before disposing them.

Depending on the type of restaurant you run, you may find that disposable plastic plates are a smart alternative to keeping a dishwasher on the payroll. Single-use plates are not only sanitary, they're easy to use because you don't have to worry about replacing broken or worn-out dishes.

When you're looking for the right disposable dishes for your restaurant, you need to take several factors into consideration, including style, durability and the size of your restaurant. There are many different types of dishes available, so you should weigh your options carefully before deciding what's right for your business. For instance, you may find:

1. Disposable dinner plates

2. Elegant disposable dishes, sometimes with fancy lettering or designs

3. Disposable cutlery and glasses

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Shop around for wholesale disposable plates at the best prices

You'll need to factor the cost of each plate into the price of your meals, so it's critical that you find the best product at the best price. The more you buy, the better rate you can get, so don't be afraid to call the company directly and haggle to get a better price.

I recommend: Get quotes from several suppliers for leverage to negotiate for the best possible price on your paper goods. Call around to such companies as Cole Papers, The WEBstaurant Store and CleanItSupply.com to compare prices and products.

Don't settle for just any disposable plastic plates

Plastic disposable dishes don't have to be unattractive. In fact, even some upscale restaurants use them for ease of use and cleaning. You can choose from standard white or an array of colors or patterns if that's right for your establishment. Many restaurants go a step further and buy plastic plates with the restaurant name and logo on them for a nice touch.

I recommend: Shop around to find the style that works best for your restaurant. If you want to leave your customers with a lasting impression, choose a customized paper product like those available at Absorbent, Ink., or add a little color to your table with some colored tableware from ReStockIt.com.

Buy disposable plates with a conscience

As a business owner and consumer, you may be concerned with the impact that disposable dishes have on the environment. You can help put your own mind at ease, along with those of your customers, by choosing disposable products that are biodegradable or recyclable.

I recommend: Go green. There are many products on the market today that can help you save money and keep the environment clean. The paper plates from Treecycle and Eco-Products, for example, are made out of sugar cane and are 100% biodegradable.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Put those wholesale disposable dishes to the test. If you have to use several plates at a time to avoid spilling food, they aren't really a good deal. Stick with sturdy products that can withstand abuse and normal use.

Disposable plates come in many shapes, colors, sizes, and what you decide on for your next gathering will depend on many factors for your gathering. How heavy is your meal? Paper plates can hold light meals like sandwiches and chips, while plastic and foam disposable dinner plates do better for full meals. Are you tying a color into a particular theme of your event? Do you need disposable plastic plates that look like china plates? Do you need compartmentalized plates to keep the food from running all together?

Whatever you decide on for your disposable dishes, you also want to look for finding the best value for your money. Price comparing dining disposable plates among vendors is another consideration, as should be the environmental impact of your choice. When you buy disposable plates, think about what happens after those plates end up in the trash. Will they biodegrade or not?

To find out more about disposable plates types and styles:

1. Learn about disposable plastic plates.

2. Consider foam single use plates for larger or heavy meals.

3. Use paper disposable dishes for a lighter, drier fare such as sandwiches and chips.

4. Go with biodegradable single use plates to make an eco-friendly choice.

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Find plastic single use plates for your next event

Consider disposable plastic plates for durability if you are serving items that are made with liquids or could leak through paper plates.

I recommend: Take a look at Party at Lewis for disposable plastic plates designed to look like china like dinnerware. These elegant disposable plates are great to dress up any dinner event on a tight budget. Give your party the look of a sit down dinner, but keep the clean up to a minimum and save tremendously. Look at the rainbow of plastic disposable dinner plates available through My Paper Shop.Com. Find the hue to suit your next party or event.

Go for foam disposable plastic plates for heavy duty meals

Look for foam disposable plastic plates in compartmentalized or non-compartmentalized styles depending on your needs.

I recommend: Purchase styrofoam disposable dishes from Nasco. Check out the wide variety of foam wholesale disposable plates from ReStockIt.com. They offer compartment plates, laminated plates as well as non-laminated plates.

Buy paper disposable plates for light meals

Paper disposable dishes work well for drier meals such as sandwiches and chips.

I recommend: Check out the unique paper single use plates from The Giftaria Stores. They offer a wide variety of colors and patterns. BudgetPackaging.com carries a much simpler line of paper plate tableware.

Consider eco-friendly disposable dishes

Go with biodegradable disposable dishes to make an earth friendly statement with your tableware.

I recommend: Find biodegradable plates from WNA. They are available in black in 6" to 10" sizes. Branch also offers a 7" and 9" biodegradable plate that is made out of sugar cane standard paper plates.

Disposable plates can help alleviate stress at office parties, which are fun but not always easy to plan. These plates come in a variety of sizes and styles and are really not that expensive. Ordinary disposable plastic plates may cost anywhere from about $.60 to a little over $1 a pack, depending on the size. Foam plates can cost as low as $1 for a 25-count pack. A case of paper plates can be purchased for about $15. A single pack of 100 plates may run about $3.

Of course, luxury disposable plates may cost a bit more, ranging from about $6 to $15 a pack. If money is not an issue, you can purchase some very classy disposable plastic plates from upwards of $80. Biodegradable plastic dishes can cost from about $70 to $200 per carton. There are a lot of choices available when considering the purchase of disposable dishes. Before buying, do the following:

1. Determine the style of the occasion to determine which type of disposable dishes are suitable.

2. Consider the size of the event to know how much to purchase.

3. Look into purchasing wholesale to keep disposable plates pricing and costs under control.

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Get the costs of disposable paper plates

Expect to pay $.20 to $1 per plate, depending on size and style and how many you buy at once. You can purchase paper plates by the pack or by the carton. Buying in bulk results in plates that cost about a quarter each.

I recommend: Platesandnapkins.com carries 10-inch paper plates with the choice of several designs for $5 to $6 per 8-pack. MyPaperShop.com sells packs of colored 240-count dinner plates for $63 to $70. Lunch plates range from about $47 to $53.

Buy disposable plates made of foam or single use plates made of plastic

Some people prefer foam or plastic plates instead of paper. These plates also come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Foam plates and plastic plates tend to be sturdier, so may cost a little more than paper plates.

I recommend: The WEBstaurant Store sells packages of 125 10-inch foam plates for about $10 per pack. Party at Lewis sells luxury plastic plates. You can purchase a pack of 12 durable plastic plates from about $7 to $12, and 15-packs ranging from $7 to $11. Pricing depends on design and size. InstaWares offers upscale disposable plastic starting at about $88. TrellisEarth offers biodegradable plates by the carton from about $70 upwards.

Locate wholesale disposable dishes

You can save money by purchasing wholesale disposable dishes. Wholesale disposable plates are available in paper, foam and plastic. You can often purchase them by the carton.

I recommend: Check out wholesale prices at Dollar Days. Disposable foam plates come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Concord Enterprises carries wholesale foam plates of various sizes starting at about $.81 for a If you are interested in buying in bulk, check out Keysan. They offer cartons of disposable paper, foam, and plastic plates ranging from $17 to about $30.