Sustainable Summer Parties: Easy Ways to Celebrate with Less Waste
Summer is here and we love a summer party! Think backyard cookouts, graduation celebrations, neighborhood block parties, picnics, and evenings on the patio with friends. What we don’t love is the afterparty garbage hangover of solo cups, water bottles and disposable plates, overflowing one's trash can and headed to the landfill.
Some good news…hosting a more sustainable party is actually pretty easy and Go Green is here to help with Sustainable Entertaining, our new pilot program for partyware rentals. We want to help you ditch the solo cup and host a lower waste party. Read on for more green parties tips!
Skip the Single-Use Stuff
One of the biggest sources of party waste is disposable plates, cups, utensils, napkins, and servingware. Most of it gets used for a few minutes and then heads straight to the landfill.
Instead, consider using reusable partyware. It instantly cuts down on waste and can even make your party feel posher!
Not ready to buy and store a bunch of extra dishes? Go Green is piloting Sustainable Entertaining rentals for reusable partyware for parties up to 75, including: Stemless wine glasses (glass and unbreakable insulated), Tumblers, Mugs, Plates, Flatware, Serving platters, Drink dispensers, Coffee carafe, and Linens and tablecloths.
Check out our inventory, pricing and rental process and reserve your partyware rental HERE. A big thank you to the DuPage Foundation’s Glen Ellyn Fund for providing support to help build our library of partyware.
SCARCE also offers a service called Green Your Gig with up to 500 place settings for rental. You can also rent partyware from many places locally, just google it! Compostable partyware is also an option, but beware that most of it can't be put in your compost and has been known to leach PFA's as they decompose.
Having reusable dishes that you rent (or borrow from friends!) is an easy way to keep hundreds of disposable items out of the trash — and your guests may very well appreciate the upgrade from plastic cups and eye your empty trash can with envy!
Set Up Clearly Marked Recycling and Compost Bins
We believe that people want to recycle — they just need to know where things go. We even get emails from folks who are frustrated when recycling is not an option in public places!
Use simple labels for trash, recycling, and compost. Put the bins next to each other so your guests don’t have to guess or wrongly mix materials.
If you don’t compost and would like to, check out item number 4 in our Top Ten Ways to Celebrate Summer of the Monarch blog post
Drink Smart
Drinks can be the best part of partying on a hot summer day! Go Greeners know that individual plastic water bottles create a surprising amount of waste (plus, they are one of the highest sources of microplastics ingestion). For your gathering, fill drink dispensers with ice water, lemonade, iced tea, or infused water (cucumbers or berries!) and let guests refill reusable cups. Not only does it reduce trash, it also looks festive.
Alternatively, serve drinks in aluminum cans. Aluminum is infinitely recyclable! You may have also had a drink from a Go Green aluminum cup at Glen Ellyn’s summer festivals. That program continues this summer at the downtown music events (including next Friday with some 90s tunes!). Why not collect and rinse out these stay cool aluminum cups this summer? We do and reuse them at home (and not just because they are branded GGGE!)
Decorate Naturally
Fresh flowers, potted plants, reusable banners, cloth tablecloths, and solar string lights all create a beautiful atmosphere without adding to the landfill.
And unlike plastic party décor, many natural decorations can be reused, composted, or even planted afterward.
Rethink Food Waste
Food waste is a huge issue, especially after large parties.
Ask guests to RSVP to serve the right amount of food
Use smaller serving trays and refill as needed so less is 'wasted' by hanging out of refrigeration for too long.
Send leftovers home in reusable containers or put in the freezer
Compost food scraps if possible
Donate food (check restrictions) to local food pantries
Borrow, Share, and Reuse
You probably don’t need to buy everything for one event. Borrow coolers, folding tables, serving trays, or lawn games from neighbors or friends. Community sharing saves money and reduces waste.
You don’t have to throw a “zero waste” party to make a difference (we like the term "lower waste.") Even replacing a couple of single-use products with reusable options is a good first step.
We think summer parties are more enjoyable when you can avoid that afterparty garbage hangover – even if means a few more dishes (and you know you have friends and family who will pitch in to help!)
Party on!
