Green Gatherings: Go Paperless

Expecting guests? This week we'll offer tips for green celebrations.

Tip #1:  Skip the Paper

Make your group gatherings tree-friendly by avoiding paper products. Send invitations electronically using Evite. Create a festive mood by setting the table with the good china and the cloth napkins. If you don't have a complete dinner set, have fun with mix-and-match decor by borrowing plates from friends or finding used dinnerware through Freecycle.

Share your tips: How do you reuse, reduce, and recycle when you're hosting a party?

Comments

[yogabee]

Why wait for Thanksgiving to go paperless? We haven't used paper napkins in years. We simply have a good supply of cloth napkins. Each family member has a different napkin ring. The napkins are put back in their rings after a meal, are reused a few times before being put in the laundry with a load of clothes. No extra laundry loads are necessary as they take up very little room in the machine.

We also clean with old rags, not paper towels. Again, no extra laundry loads necessary.

[Don Parker]

You can't just put up a recommendation like this without talking about how you do your cleanup. Using lots of water and/or leaving it running as you rinse, or throwing the dirty dinnerware in an inefficient dishwasher, is no better than using pressed paper, which at least biodegrades quickly. It's about balancing resource use, and water is a resource, and in some areas, a much more valuable one that the pressed paper alternative.

[Hawaii Vacation Packages]

Once, back in the 1990's, I gave a 15 person potluck party and used my own silverware and dishware. One of my friends kindly suggested that next time I should use plastics plates and forks. I just smiled and didn't replay. But now, I am feel confident enought to tell my guests about the wonderful benefits of washing all those plates and silverware (dishwasher with Seventh generation detergent). I will use it as an opportunity to share the plastic soup knowledge and what's happening with our trash in oceans and earth with my guests. I'm no longer ashamed to use washable dishware and silverware.

Here's some of my ideas for paperless green parties:
Bring gifts unwrapped. If you are going to bring wine or a gift for the host, skip the special wine bags, the present bags and just give it as is, maybe with a small natural pine branch taped on or a homemade gift tag with are reused piece of twine/tie.

I love E-vite - no paper or stamps required. Friends don't have email? Just call and catch up with those people. They much rather prefer being asked in person to come to your party.

And next time there's a party, volunteer to have it at your house, so you can encourage your friends and family to have eco-friendly parties. Encourage change in others, it the next best thing!

[Patty]

Instead of giftwrap last year, I bought cotton mesh shopping bags and 'wrapped' my gifts in those. In each one, I enclosed a not explaining why I was doing this. I was a little bit worried about offending people, but figured my note was less offensive than wasting paper to wrap. Surprisingly, I got more thank you’s for the bag than the gifts!

[Sara B., Norfolk]

Let's talk keggers! If you're having a BIG wild party and don't want your glasses broken, put permanent markers by the cups so guests can mark their's. This way, when your drunk buds put down their brew, they can easily identify their own among a sea of cups...instead of reaching for another cup and refilling (saves resources, money (buying fewer cups), and beer).

[Lerin]

I love this- my hubby and I have been hostig T-Day for 5 years now with both of our families- we've always used our mismatched glasses so no one gets their drinks mixed up. Last year, everyone looked at the stack of cloth napkins and asked for paper ones, to which I replied "We don't use paper napkins because they kill trees" and that shut them up. This year... I'm going to make them reuse their dinner plate for desert- hopefully they won't waste a bunch of food. I'm gonna to make an announcement about that one... I can't control how much they eat, but darn it, I can make them think twice about a huge helping of something. I can't wait to see the horrified look on my mother-in-laws face when she finds out that her pie has to touch the same plate and fork that her turkey did. I think I might even say the blessing this year and throw in something about remembering all the less fortunate who are starving while others have excess to encourage them to not take more than they will eat. The grown-ups are worse than the kids, because at least with the kids you can tell them they can't have desert until they finish what's already on their plate... I'd love to tell my in-laws that they can't have desert until they clean their plates... ooh and not only that, but they have to eat their veggies too, and sweet potatos and green beans covered in a bunch of processed slime doesn't count.

[Marliss]

I use "real" dinnerware and silverware, as well as cloth napkins. I do not use a dishwasher because my dinnerware is older, and dishwasher soap would destroy the design and finish. I wonder what dishwasher soap, designed to "eat" dried food off of dishes does to the environment?

[Diggitt McL]

Twenty-five years ago I bought (on sale!) 90 glass dishes and bowls, metal forks, and cloth kapkins, so I would always be prepared for a party. I am happy to lend my stuff to any friends having a meeting or gathering, BUT so often the response is: "Oh, it's such trouble." Filling a dishwasher is trouble? Adding cloth napkins to your laundry is a problem?

Over the years, the tempered glass (each piece was less than a buck each when I bought them) has never broken -- not one piece. I have recouped the purchase price dozens of times by now.

If you simply must use disposables, consider whether you or (or a friend) can compost them. If they're all white, have no plastic coating, and indicate that they can be composted (like Chinet), buy those. And buy cornstarch-based utensils. And, really, put them in your compost. Over time they will rot right along with your coffee grounds and banana peels. Chinet is pricey, but considering the costs you're not bearing (you're not buying permanent stuff and you're living into the future with this stuff in a landfill somewhere)it's not that expensive.

STILL don't have time for all this hassle? In that case, how do you have time for a party and why are you reading green tips like these? Being an adult means taking responsibility for your choices, and casually tossing plastic junk is not being responsible.

[Maria]

When I have a Thanksgiving pot luck, everyone is responsible for washing their plate and utensils when finished. I simply set up the compost bucket beside the sink, fill the dishpan with soapy water, and provide a towel on the counter or a draining tray, and let everyone take care of their own. Not only does it save on paper products, but I don't have to do all the cleanup! And, some of the best conversations happen in the kitchen as everyone pitches in.

[Matt D.]

All of these are great ideas. I just finished reading the book Simply Green Giving and it offers a wide variety of ways to reduce the waste around the holidays.

[IvyB]

Not only do I not use paper, but.... having had an old favorite tablecloth become stained beyond "repair" I had cut and hemmed for multiple uses; think napkins, dishrags and placemats. Not only did this not cost anything, but it was a great way to recycle. The badly stained areas are the designated dishrags. Surprisingly,everyone liked their napkins!