how many plastic spoons, forks, and knifes were produced in the US
last year? How many sporks were produced in the US last year?

bweezer:

Best estimate is 100 billion pieces of plastic disposable cutlery
produced in the USA by the prime producers such as Dart, Solo
(formerly Clearshield), Sweetheart, Dixie, Tyco, Dispozo, Praire Pkg,
WNA Comet, Maryland Plastics,etc.

This estimate does not include imported cutlery from China, Korea, and
Thailand which are primary sources.

When you examine the prices for cutlery at the wholesale website shown
below, you will note the price per piece of cutlery is quite low
justifing the huge amount of production.

    http://www.instawares.com/subcategory.13-1773-3.0.0.2.htm

I hope this information is sufficient for your needs. 

Seedy

Research:
Primary research involved getting updated on personal knowledge from
industry involvement over 10 years ago.

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Clarification of Answer by seedy-ga on 05 Apr 2004 10:28 PDT

bweezer:

I must apologize for making an arithmetic mistake from updated data I
received. The production of plastic disposable cutlery is closer to 40
billion pieces rather than 100 billion pieces.  This, in rough terms,
puts the market value at $500MM...Sorry for this error...

seedy

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Request for Answer Clarification by bweezer-ga on 07 Apr 2004 14:25 PDT

excellent job on the question. however, how much of these plastic good
turn into waste per yer? thank you

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Clarification of Answer by seedy-ga on 19 Jun 2004 08:56 PDT

bweezer:

You can safely assume that all of the plastic disposable cutlery is
turned into waste over its lifetime.  Although I wash plastic cutlery
and use it a few times, it eventually goes into the trash.  There is
virtually no recycling of plastic cutlery in the USA.

seedy

PS:  Sorry for the delay on this comment...I have been indisposed..
PPS:  I have been so indiposed that I forgot how to add a
clarification rather than a comment..

very good info for the price!

bweezer:

I have personal knowledge of this industry from about 10 years ago. I
am attempting to update to current information if you have patience.
Another Researcher may find information before me so good luck..

seedy

bweezer:

I have personal knowledge of this industry from about 10 years ago. I
am attempting to update to current information if you have patience.
Another Researcher may find information before me so good luck..

seedy

PS:  The estimated ratio of types of products is:
     Forks about 53%, spoons 30%, knives 12%, sporks 5%

bweezer:

You can safely assume that all of the plastic disposable cutlery is
turned into waste over its lifetime.  Although I wash plastic cutlery
and use it a few times, it eventually goes into the trash.  There is
virtually no recycling of plastic cutlery in the USA.

seedy

PS:  Sorry for the delay on this comment...I have been indisposed..