As you are planning your 4th of July, and other
summer celebrations, put a little thought into adding some GREEN to your fun by
reducing your waste. Here are a few tips to make your celebrations fun,
waste-less, and satisfying!
1)
Think durable and reusable. Instead of going out
and buying paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic utensils, and those cheap
plastic table cloths that rip after one use, remake your celebration with
durable and reusable goods! If you don’t want to use your good dishes, you can
find some inexpensive plastic or melamine dishware and cups at many stores,
with refreshing summer themes and colors. Or, better yet, check at second hand
stores and garage sales for plates, utensils and cups. Pack your metal utensils
along for the outing. I simply put all of my reusable goods in a plastic tote
or wicker laundry basket, and we’re off. Top it off with a colorful table
cloth.
2)
Rather than buying individual condiment
packages, provide condiments such as mustard, ketchup, relish, and sugar in
containers.
3) If
you are decorating for your gathering, use decorations that can be reused in
future years. Or, consider borrowing decorations from a friend. Consider using
alternatives to balloons, such as fresh-cut-flowers.
4) Bring
a bag for your own recycling. If you're spending the day somewhere that you
know won't provide recycling opportunities, pack a bag for those couple of
aluminum cans you and your party will empty while there.
5)
Look around for a recycling container at the
event site or park. If there aren’t any, take your recyclables back home. Write
a letter to event coordinators encouraging them to think about recycling next
time.
6)
Offer to set out boxes or bags for recycling if
you are at a friend or family member’s house, and they have forgotten to
provide a container for recycling. Label the containers so you don’t end up
with garbage in them.
7)
Got leftovers? Think about all of the unemployed
and less fortunate individuals in our state. Oregon ranks 3rd in
childhood hunger rates in the nation. So, rather than throw out your extra
food, find out if one of the Community Meal sites or Food banks in your
community can use the extra. Usually they can. Chances are you even have a
neighbor who could really use the extra food right now.
No comments:
Post a Comment