Dutch guy wrote:<snip> The end result was that both clay and plastic are pretty closely matched with plastic just slightly ahead. BUT this assumes both go to landfill. The pollution of plastic can be further reduced if we assume a reasonable recycling rate of 1% of total plastic cups used twice and 5% recycled as some other sort of plastic product (Wheelybins or something, 5% is not unreasonable as a lot of companies have a separate bin for plastic cups, and offices and the likes are the biggest consumers of plastic cups)
The thing about clay and ceramics is that they, too, can be re-used and/or recycled.
Also, remember that you are assuming 1000 uses. That's three time per day for a year. Now handwash only once per day, and consider 1 to 5 uses per day (average of 2.5). This pushes ceramics further and further up into the "better than plastic" category.
I use a 1L stainless steel bottle, wash once a week, and refill up to thrice (average 2) a day (5 days a week). How's that measure up to plastic?
-=----=----=----=----=----=----=----=----=----=----=-
As for CFL bulbs, they do seem to last much longer than incandecent bulbs (anecdotal evidence! beware!), and do draw about 1/5 to 1/8 the power of incandecent bulbs with similar output. I can leave one on all day and only marginally affect my elecrticity bill (I leave early and come home late -- a light on in the house reduces hazards from coming home after dark), and they're only a little more expensive than their fiery brethren.
My only issue with CFLs is that it's hard to find bulbs that are designed to be mounted inverted (pointing down), and I tend to favor fixtures that have or can be used in inverted mounting positions.