Researchers have created the DishMaker, a dishwasher sized machine that can make dishes on demand from recyclable wafers. Using food-grade acrylic wafers in their pure form or dishes made by the DiskMaker, the machine heats these materials into a malleable state from which a user can instruct the DishMaker to press the wafer into a cup, plate, salad bowl, or other design. Capable of holding 150 of these wafers at once, the device isn't perfected yet,

The process has a couple of glitches, though. The cups require less material than plates, but instead of cutting away the leftover acrylic, the machine currently forms it into a large, flat lip on top of the cup that makes drinking difficult. The other problem concerns cleaning the dishes. The heating process gets rid of some food and sterilizes the dishes, but doesn't solve the problem of food grease, which tends to settle into the plastic.

Designers are currently experimenting with ways to clean dishes without using water.

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The Misoneist Says: Even though the DishMaker recycles dishes using less power consumption then it takes to make the wafers, washing a dish would use less power.
The Philoneist Says:If the DishMaker's researchers develop a way for the machine clean dishes without water, restauranteurs could save money by liquidating their dishwashing staff. If the design team can surmount this hurdle, then they'll have a hot product on their hands.