Ringing in the New Year does not have to mean an excess of waste and environmental impact. With a little bit of planning, you can enjoy a great party and be responsible at the same time. Here are some thoughts about how to have a green New Year’s Eve party.
Champagne Flutes
Whether you opt for real champagne or sparkling cider, avoid the plastic champagne flutes. Not only are they pretty tacky, but they also negatively impact the planet. Real flutes aren’t much more money, especially if you buy them at Overstock.com or Amazon.com in bulk. Plus, you’ll have them year after year and save money in the long run. Real glass adds a certain elegance to your party as well.
Confetti
It always floors me when I see people buying packages of confetti for outrageous prices. Whomever thought of selling confetti must be a genius. Instead, make your own using a hole punch and some left over copy paper, wrapping paper or newspaper. You can also use scissors to make strips if paper as well. When you are done celebrating, simply sweep it up and throw it in the recycling bin or the compost bin (in the case of newspaper confetti).
Candles
You can really make a room sparkle when you add candlelight. The problem is that most candles are petroleum based. These type of candle produce toxins and environmentally damaging soot. Instead, you can choose soy candles to eliminate this issue.
Food
Keep your food simple and choose locally grown ingredients whenever possible. Make appetizers from scratch or at least choose organic items. There are many great food products out there that are manufactured responsibly, but are also convenient.
Plates and Silverware
Use real plates and silverware instead of plastic and paper disposable items. You can often pick up plenty of pieces at your local thrift store for a steal. They won’t match, but that is often part of the charm, and really, who will notice anyway. There are some manufactures out there that will make compost-able plates, but you’ll have to compost them all yourself or find a company that will do it for you.
You can read more blog posts by Mary Ann Romans here!
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