COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Fourth of July weekend is often filled with parties, picnics and backyard barbecues.
But in addition to enjoying fireworks and displaying red, white and blue in celebration of Independence Day, officials with the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio said you can add some green to your festivities.
Go Meatless: While the Fourth of July is synonymous with grilling burgers and hot dogs, consider going meat-free by opting for plant-based recipes. Making a plant-based burger with ingredients already in your pantry can eliminate a trip to the grocery store and cut down on food waste.
Skip the Disposable Serving Ware: Plastic utensils may be convenient, but they aren’t recyclable. Instead, consider using your favorite festive dish set for small parties; choose BPI-certified compostable options that have been tested to break down in a commercial compost facility for larger parties. If you don’t currently have access to a commercial composting program, consider using uncoated paper plates and bamboo cutlery, which will decompose in a home compost environment.
Fresh from the Garden: Decorate your tables with seasonal flowers from your garden or fruits and vegetables instead of cheap decorations that you’ll likely throw in the trash.
Make Recycling Easy: Set your recycling bins next to your trash cans to make it easy for your guests to recycle. Print and display this recycling sign to make it easy for guests to know what to toss in the blue cart.
Minimize Food Waste: Like most holidays and big gatherings, it’s easy to stock your grocery cart with more than you think you need, which can lead to unnecessary food waste. In Franklin County, over a million pounds of food waste enter the landfill every day. Check out this Guest-imator tool to help determine how much food to purchase for your next gathering.
For more information on how to go green on July 4th, click here.
