Hosting a low-waste party for the “Big Game”
In just one week, many will host gatherings to watch the Big Game. If your New Year’s resolution was to work on living more sustainably, we’ve got a few tips on how to make your party more eco-friendly and low-waste.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Reduce
We’re going to follow the motto that is the cornerstone of sustainability and start with making a plan and creating a shopping list so we reduce the purchase of excess materials and perishable goods. Sending out digital invites and asking for an RSVP can help you plan accordingly and let your guests know that their RSVP helps you in hosting this low-waste event.
Creating a shopping list and making a plan will curb unnecessary purchases or food that could go to waste.
Reuse
Utilizing materials that you can reuse goes a long way for future hosting duties. Ditch plastic tablecloths for reusable cloth ones. Hub board member Erin Fay described how she uses supplies from a party box she’s curated over the years in a recent blog post with the folks at Annex of Oakley.
Consider creating your own version of this so you’ll be set for the big game as well as future hosting gigs. Party boxes could include additional silverware, cups, plates and bowls. Thrift stores are a great option for acquiring cheaper/affordable options in bundles. These can all be washed and stored away until the next party. Having an assortment of cloth napkins you can wash and reuse will help reduce the waste of single use paper napkins. Many grocery stores and home goods stores offer reusable or paper straws, so you can still offer the accessibility while striving for sustainability.
Think outside the box when it comes to decor. Skip the cheap single use decor you can find at dollar stores and use materials you already have on hand as a football fan. Use jerseys, shirts, and other fan gear to set the scene or create a photo backdrop. Ditch the balloons, since rubber and mylar end up in the trash anyways, in favor of paper chains or felt garland to bring in color and interest to your party decor.
Recycle
If you don’t have the ability to curate your own party box before your next gathering, consider how your single use items can be recycled. Paper plates can’t be recycled, but at the Hub you can bring styrofoam and plastic (just be sure it’s clean and dry). Plastic cups can go into your curbside recycling, with the exception of #6 and #7 cups which can come to the Hub. You can also recycle plastic utensils and straws at the Hub, too. Plastic cups and dishes that are listed as compostable or PLA will only degrade in a commercial compost environment, not in the landfill. There’s no benefit for folks hosting small scale gatherings to use these plastics over the typical #1, #5, or #6.
Other items you can recycle at the Hub that you might find at a gathering:
Rigid plastic food containers #1-7 and unnumbered (pre-made food platters from the deli, cookies from the bakeries, etc.)
Note: plastic tubs, cups, jugs, and bottles are recycled curbside.
Aluminum foil (just make sure it’s clean, dry, and free of food debris)
Corks
Bread Ties & Twist Ties
Flexible food packaging (chip bags, cheese bags, salad bags, candy bags and wrappers)
BuzzBallz (we have a TerraCycle collection for these adult beverages)
Kroger Branded flexible packaging
Swiffer pads and trigger heads (from the pre-gathering cleaning and post-party clean up)
Styrofoam coolers (you can also pick these up from our 4th floor reuse space and return them when finished for the next person to use)
Do you have tips or tricks for hosting a sustainable gathering? Drop them in the comments, we’re not gatekeeping good ideas around these parts!