GREEN YOUR: CELEBRATIONS

I like to entertain. I hate plastic.

In today’s disposable world, you can see where this would be a problem.

Recently Mister and I threw our first big bash at home – I don’t count holidays, although they can be production in themselves – anyhoo… the thought of all the waste that would be created by our guests was bothersome.  Especially on my own soil.  The house where the only single use product left is toilet paper.  Thin, scratchy, 100% recycled, non-bleached toilet paper.  The very place where I turned into a hoarder for fear of something not being properly recycled.

‘Tis true.  Someday you will see me on television pitching a fit amongst a house full of yogurt containers and egg cartons.  ”But I could use that someday!”

So the thought of loads of trash, plastic bottles, plastic tablecloths {ha! cloth is not plastic}, napkins, plates, cups, silverware – all being disposed for a few hours of fun was enough to turn my stomach like eating potato salad after sitting in the sun for four hours.  Makes you sick just thinking about it.  That’s my view on plastic.

I’d like to tell you we had a waste free party, but we did not.  Lack of planning and time led to paper plates, cups and napkins. i.e. Trash.  We did however forgo the plastic table-”cloths” opting for rolls of brown kraft paper.  Which, I must say, led to some entertaining creativity.

The buffet tables I covered with cloth tablecloths purchased from Goodwill.  They didn’t match exactly, but were all the same color and you wouldn’t know any better.  I paid two bucks a piece – less than a cheap disposable cover would cost me – and now I have them for future use.  The used kraft paper will make good weed barrier when I mulch my garden walkways next year.  I told you I am a hoarder.

I also scored 121 forks from Goodwill.  Real forks.  Made of metal, not plastic.  They cost me around $35.00 {28 cents a piece}.  A small price to pay for peace of mind and a clear conscience.  They didn’t have the spoons we needed, but Walmart did.  Don’t ask what I was doing there, I hate to admit it.  Walmart sells 4-pack bundles of silverware for 99 cents.  99 cents!  Less than Goodwill.

I don’t want to think about how they were made, my stomach will start churning again, but at least they will not sit forever in a landfill somewhere.  For now they will sit in my basement until the next big bash.

Speaking of which, I hope to whittle away at the waste and someday have a zero waste party.

For next year I will scour the thrift stores and garage sales for plates and glasses.  I have some in stock already, but not enough to serve 100 people.  I’m sure I could easily whip up 100 cloth napkins if I actually took 15 minutes to sit down and do it.  And we’ve been collecting tables and chairs from curbs all over town.  {You’d be amazed at what people throw away.}  Better recycling stations and a compost bin are also on the list for next year.

How do you incorporate sustainability into your soirees?

Tagged as: EVENT DESIGN, green event design, GREEN YOUR: CELEBRATIONS, PLASTIC {THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE}, YOU CAN DO IT: SUSTAINABLE LIVING {WASTE REDUCTION}

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