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Hints for lower impact barbeques and picnics:
Instead of paper plates, cups, invest in plastic ware and utensils that can be washed and used again and again. Many department stores now sell summer party ware that is colorful, inexpensive, durable, and dishwasher safe. My set is on summer # eight! I keep it all in a basket, ready for a quick set-up for our next impromptu get-together.
Put out a couple of five gallon plastic pails half-filled with hot soapy water beside the trash can for your guests to put their dirty dishes in when they are finished. This will allow you to forget about the dishes until your guests have left without having dried on food and insects to deal with later.
Put out a pile of dish/bar cloths on the table for people to use as napkins. Cloth works better than paper napkins for sticky fingers and spills. After the event, toss them in with your next load of laundry.
Instead of canned/bottled beverages mix up punch/lemonade/ice tea and put it into milk jugs. Put the milk jugs on ice in a cooler. If you choose to use canned/bottled beverages, put out a box for the empties/recycling to go into so that they don't end up in the trash. I put the box beside the outside faucet so that the cans may be rinsed right there.
Open up your compost bin for the watermelon rind, burned buns, and the fruit/vegetable plate waste. Remember no meat, cheese, eggs or mayonnaise in the compost bin!
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