There is a difference between plastic tea cups and saucers and disposable tea cups and saucers, though often the disposable kinds are also made of a type of plastic. Although most people would rather not drink out of plastic cups, there are times when they are great to have on hand, for example when entertaining outside, enjoying a barbecue or having a picnic. They are actually also quite handy when you are hosting any kind of party, especially if alcoholic beverages are being served, as it can save you a lot of cracked or broken cups or saucers.
If you are going to invest in plastic cups and saucers, what type is best to buy? There has been a lot of discussion back and forth in the media the past few years regarding the safety of using plastic cups, plastic tea accessories and other eating utensils, especially if you are serving hot liquids in them. Recommendations are to stick with plastics that have specific recycling numbers marked on them, with #2, #4 and #5 considered safe to use. Plastic marked with #1 is also safe, but only for one time use—not for repeated use. Some people are avoiding plastic altogether and instead are using glass, ceramic, or stainless steel only. If you are interested in purchasing cups and saucers for either one time use or occasional use you should be safe to pick something that falls under those categories.
You may want to look for a harder type plastic, or at least one that does not scratch easily as that is the main problem with plastic ware. While you may think that a plastic teacup would not get scratched, it can happen if you wash them by hand using a hard sponge. I have also seen plastic cups used by small children with tiny little scratches around the rim where little teeth have grated back and forth against the cup!
When it comes to design, there is a myriad to choose from. You can find either plain or patterned cups in many different styles, shapes and sizes. They are also very reasonably priced and usually much lighter to pack and carry with you if you are taking them for a barbecue or going on a picnic. So, there definitely still are many uses for the humble plastic tea cup and saucer.