Month 6 #12challengePLASTIC: Celebrations
November is here, bringing cold weather, cozy fires, family gatherings and parties to welcome the season and celebrate the approaching holidays. Think back to last year’s big holiday dinner… how many bags of trash did you haul out? If you’re like most of us, there was A LOT. Lots of plastic utensils, plastic tablecloths, disposable plates and cups, maybe some decorations and wrapping, disposable food containers, plastic drink bottles and cans…
If you’re hosting a big group, disposable party supplies seem like the easiest way to pull it off. But by making a few adjustments, you can reduce the waste big time and still have an awesome party without breaking your neck to be low-waste.
We often host parties in my home and at our local park for up to 50 people at a time. By using our reusable party supplies, we have reduced the party waste down to a tiny amount of food waste and some recycling. I was so surprised at our neighborhood Halloween party when I saw the trash bag was nearly empty at the end of the night!
Think some celebrations are too big for low waste options? Think again…
This year at my preschool, we turned our annual fundraiser low waste, even while hosting around 250 people. With reusable logo cups, paper straws, compostable utensils, paper plates, water coolers, butcher paper tablecloths, natural crafts and visible recycling, we reduced our waste significantly.
From big parties to small gatherings, jump into November and focus on making your celebrations single-use plastic free, one easy change at a time.
Here are 5 simple ways to turn your party into a low-waste success:
1. Invest in inexpensive reusable party supplies
Plates - We keep our “party plates” in a drawer, ready to party anytime. They’re easy to take to the park, sturdy for piling on food, and easy to wash. Choose plates that are easy to store, easy to clean, and light enough to take with you. Our favorite brand is Preserve Everyday Plates. If you really need disposable, choose thick paper and avoid plastic and styrofoam.
Cups - Reusable plastic cups are very easy to come by. We have a motley collection we pull out for informal parties, collected from events and the seemingly inevitable accumulation. For nicer parties, we set out all the glasses we have collected…even some jars! If you don’t have time to form a cup collection, sets of glasses or reusable plastic cups can be found cheaply online or at most stores.
Utensils - Last year we invested in inexpensive packs of stainless forks and spoons that we reuse for each party (you can also get knives, but we don’t have as much use for them). Another great option is to collect unused pieces, or shop thrift stores for second hand items.
Napkins - While paper napkins are plastic free (besides the wrapper! Don’t forget you can recycle the wrapping at your local plastic bag recycling drop off), you can create a lot less waste by using fabric napkins. For informal gatherings, we use napkins simply cut with pinking shears from a clean sheet. You can make a lot of napkins that way!
Tablecloths - Just say no to plastic tablecloths. Fabric tablecloths are no brainers. You can even have a very easy and thrifty reusable tablecloth just by using a flat twin sheet, patterned or plain. For big events, where you might not have enough fabric cloths, use butcher paper rolls instead. You can recycle it when the party’s over.
Drink dispensers - We keep 2 types of dispensers at our house, a glass dispenser as well as a to-go water cooler for parties outside the home. These are great for punches, flavored drinks or just plain water, and cuts down on the need for bottled beverages.
2. Choose plastic free options for food
Whenever we plan a party, I think about the food choices. Instead of plastic-bagged grapes, we choose whole watermelon, apples or pineapple, cutting them right before the party. I prepare my own veggie trays instead of buying the pre-cut, plastic tray from the store. We choose the barbecue sauce or salad dressing in glass bottles instead of plastic, and we prepare easy dishes that can feed large groups instead of buying pre-made. It sounds like a lot of work, but it doesn’t have to be! Just pausing for a moment to consider your options, then making the choice that reduces the most plastic doesn’t always leave you sweating in the kitchen.
3. Set up clearly marked recycling areas
Whether it’s a big event or a small dinner, be sure to have a clearly marked area for recycling. That way you don’t end up digging through the trash to retrieve cans or bottles (been there….). It also encourages your guests to think about recycling!
4. Choose plastic-free decorations & favors
Just last night, my daughter came home with a pocket full of cheap plastic favors from a festival. Within maybe 5 minutes, she had broken some of them, and left the others littering the floor. While these little treats may seem fun at the moment, they end up being fast trash. Glow sticks are fun while they glow, then they become garbage; novelty sunglasses and necklaces don’t stick around for long. Be thoughtful about the treats you choose. Think about providing experiences or crafts instead of plastic favors.
Decorations likewise don’t have to end up as plastic waste. Choose decorations made from paper, natural materials, fabric, wood or ceramic. Really want some confetti? Avoid plastic, silk flower petals, or mylar like these pieces we found walking through the park. Instead, use natural materials, paper or even punch holes in leaves!
5. Participate in programs to help recycle unavoidable party waste
At my house, we love Halloween. While we gave out plastic-free candy, trick-or-treating brings home all sorts of candy wrappers. Mostly plastic and not recyclable curbside, we off-set the waste problem by joining with some neighbors to purchase a community Terracycle Candy Wrapper Recycling Box.
Now that we are in prime holiday season, take this month to examine what you use during celebrations, and look for plastic-free alternatives. Take a second look at the way you decorate and the party supplies you buy and see what reusable items you can add to your next gathering.
Work on these new habits, and see what changes you can make to step away from single-use plastic one day at a time!
Take the #12challengePLASTIC and join us today!
This month:
Take stock of what party supplies you usually use.
Choose some reusable party supplies to try out at your next celebration.
Look ahead to the holidays: what types of plastic-free decorations and gift-giving ideas can you come up with?
Keep trying out plastic-free alternatives and see how far you can go.
Share about your journey on The Clean Up Project Facebook page!