diff --git a/overcooked_simulator/counters.py b/overcooked_simulator/counters.py
index 3d930aa54e15a4c6ad9f187b3766eee34f96cc07..a7f126d7c9c489c71363bf9451964118e23746b2 100644
--- a/overcooked_simulator/counters.py
+++ b/overcooked_simulator/counters.py
@@ -461,7 +461,8 @@ class PlateConfig:
     """dirty plates at the start."""
     plate_delay: list[int, int] = dataclasses.field(default_factory=lambda: [5, 10])
     """The uniform sampling range for the plate delay between serving and return in seconds."""
-
+    return_dirty: bool = True
+    """Specifies if plates are returned dirty or clean to the plate dispenser."""
 
 class PlateDispenser(Counter):
     """At the moment, one and only one plate dispenser must exist in an environment, because only at one place the dirty
@@ -522,7 +523,7 @@ class PlateDispenser(Counter):
 
     def add_dirty_plate(self):
         """Add a dirty plate after a timer is completed."""
-        self.occupied_by.appendleft(self.create_item())
+        self.occupied_by.appendleft(self.create_item(clean=not self.plate_config.return_dirty))
 
     def update_plate_out_of_kitchen(self, env_time: datetime):
         """Is called from the serving window to add a plate out of kitchen."""