Throwing a party does not mean that you have to toss all of your green eco behaviors out the window. You can plan a party, send out invitations, serve food on earth friendly place settings, and clean up with eco friendly cleaners. Today, Summer shares with us just a 
few good ideas on throwing a party the eco friendly way starting with what you use to clean up with.
Eating on and washing regular dishes with phosphate-free detergent has the least impact on the environment. However, if you don’t plan on using your real plates and silverware at your holiday party then be sure you use compostable products. All paper napkins and towels are compostable. Same goes for flatware and cups which can be made out of wood, corn or potato starch, sugarcane, bagasse (pulp from plant products), or wheat straw which all compost. Cups which are paper with no lining, not even wax lining, can also be composted. Plates follow the same rules and can be found also made from the same materials as the cups and flatware. The best part is NO CLEANING. Even with all the food, food ruminants, or beverage left on them – it’s all compostable. A simple search on Amazon made shopping easy, or head to your local Whole Foods or farmer co-op grocery store, in Seattle we have PCC. At LetsGoGreen you can obtain all your place setting for about a dollar each depending on quantity.
Check with your local waste management about yard waste/compost bins for your area. Be sure to follow their specific guidelines for your area. Most collection bins are composted for using in public area so you reap the benefits; this helps keep the soil ripe with nutrients that plates and animals need. If you have the room, you can consider creating your own compost bin in your yard.
Hefty just sent me a press release mentioning that they just created Hefty® Basics disposable tableware product line. This line of paper plates are biodegradable in-home composting and free of inks, dyes or coatings. Hefty® Basics™ paper plates are stronger than everyday plates at a value price, and provide a great choice for people interested in an environmental option. For every 10 likes on Hefty Basics Facebook fan page they will plant a new tree through the Arbor Day Foundation.
About Summer:
Summer is the President of our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living.
For every qualifying redemption of Hanes product purchases, the Arbor Day Foundation, which works to replant trees in America’s national forests that have been damaged by fire, insect or disease, will plant a tree on behalf of Hanes and its consumers, up to 20,000 trees.
