Keeping Your Summer Gatherings Low on Waste
I think of summer as a time to relax and gather outdoors with friends and family, making new memories. With just a bit of extra prep time, summer gatherings—barbecues, picnics, birthday parties –can leave a tiny footprint instead of generating a whole lot of plastic and other waste.
Here are my favorite tips to ensure your celebrations are sustainable:
Keep it real
If you are hosting an event, why not bring out the real cutlery, plates, cloth napkins? Buying plastic tablecloths, foodware and paper napkins may seem like a convenient way to avoid clean-up after the party, but it is also the quickest way to ensure you will end up with a garbage bag full of waste. Most of this stuff is not even recyclable (plastic cutlery is not accepted in residential recycling bins). I like to think of after- party dishwashing as a great way to unwind after hosting. And you may even have a friend or two who will volunteer to help.
BYO everything
Are you picnicking tomorrow? Fill your reusable water bottle with your favorite beverage and encourage others in your group to do the same. A text reminder an hour before your meet-up is a great idea. Why not also bring your own utensils, plate and cup?
When life gives you lemons…
Yes, you could save yourself 10 minutes and buy bottled lemonade or iced tea. But why not make your own?
Here’s my husband’s recipe for iced tea: Boil a pitcher’s worth of water, pour it into a pitcher and steep two of your favorite tea bags in the water for 10 minutes.
Here’s my recipe for lemonade: Mix 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice with ½ cup simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, with sugar dissolved in simmering water); add 3 cups of cold water to the mixture. Refrigerate until chilled or just add ice. Adjust water and syrup to your desired level of sweetness or tartness.
Homemade lemonade takes minutes to make. Photo credit: Mariya Volk
Opt for summer’s bounty
If you live near a farmers’ market, you know that this is the season of plenty. Choose fresh produce to bring to your bbq or picnic rather than pre-packaged salads. A big watermelon cut on site is always welcome, as are skewered grilled vegetables.
Grilled vegetables are a great low-waste option. Photo Credit: Stephanie Miller
Get thy food waste to a compost pile
Whether it’s watermelon rinds or lemon peels, do your best to make sure your food waste ends up in a compost pile rather than the landfill. Food waste in landfills is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. If you don’t have a home compost system, but you live in the DC area, there are lots of options for ensuring your food waste gets composted, including DC’s free compost drop-off sites.
This summer, aim to create memories, not waste.
