plastic is special, hard to dissolve re; Somewhere in the south is banning the creaky, styrofoam plates, etc. that aren't biodegradable...rock on... France goes after plastic items... http://www.sciencealert.com/france-just-became-the-first-country-to-ban-all-plastic-plates-cups-and-utensils I prefer to use a paper plate on reusable plastic plate holders... Didn't realize that I'm so ahead of other dish washing haters...LJ