4th Of July 2010: 5 Ways To Green Your Festivities (PHOTOS)

Send all your eco-inquiries to Jennifer Grayson at [e-mail]. Questions may be edited for length and clarity.

Any tips for throwing an eco-friendly Fourth of July party? I'm not expecting a tofu and sprouts crowd, so please make your suggestions realistic.

-Burt

I've always believed that caring about the environment is patriotic. We're blessed to live in a magnificently beautiful country, and it's in all of our best interests to keep it that way. So what better time to bring that point home than your annual Fourth of July celebration?

This year, the holiday seems particularly poignant: With the oil spill in the Gulf, the United States ironically finds itself, once again, struggling against the authority of the British (British Petroleum, that is). But we're also grappling with the bigger picture issue here, which is the need to free ourselves -- dare I say, declare independence from -- our devastating addiction to oil and other fossil fuels.

All of a sudden, a hot dog and a sparkler don't seem like enough of a statement.

Don't get me wrong: I enjoy a backyard barbecue as much as the next veggie burger-loving American, and I'm not saying you should turn your July 4th fest into some sort of oil spill sit-in, but the least we can do is make sure our celebrating doesn't leave the country -- not to mention the planet -- worse for the wear.

And who knows? Maybe adding a bit of groovy green to your ol' red, white, and blue bash will inspire your not-so-eco friends and family to do the same in the future. Five ideas:

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Ditch the Disposables

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Just say no to petroleum-based, landfill-bound plastic cups, plates, and utensils and serve the vittles at your party like a gracious green gentleman -- using real, old-fashioned plates, silverware, and glassware. You don't have to buy anything worthy of a wedding registry, either: Pick up a few different inexpensive sets off Craigslist or at your local thrift store, and the mismatched look will lend a cool vintage vibe to your party. Can't bear the thought of washing all those dishes? Check out biodegradable and compostable picnic ware made from potatoes and corn.

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Just say no to petroleum-based, landfill-bound plastic cups, plates, and utensils and serve the vittles at your party like a gracious green gentleman -- using real, old-fashioned plates, silverware, and glassware. You don't have to buy anything worthy of a wedding registry, either: Pick up a few different inexpensive sets off Craigslist or at your local thrift store, and the mismatched look will lend a cool vintage vibe to your party. Can't bear the thought of washing all those dishes? Check out biodegradable and compostable picnic ware made from potatoes and corn.

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Comments

[Virgil Kane]

12:22 AM on 07/23/2010

Kegs used to be more economical­ly viable in the past than today. For some reason buying a keg of beer and a bunch of cases are virtually the same. Since people have to put deposits on kegs, taps, buckets, and get ice, etc. This makes them less likely to do that. It's a shame. I used to love getting kegs.

Remember, if you get kegs, use glasses or reusable plastic cups, not disposable ones.

[kitty61]

09:09 PM on 07/11/2010

I have been green for a while (and mostly by accident) I hate paper/plas­tic anything and have always had loads of real china, and when we have big celebratio­ns, I usually get my friends to contribute­, (hopefully no breakages)

We always use real flatware and glasses, washing up is much better for the environmen­t then landfill. I'm in the US now however, have come from Australia and we have great recycling programs- our trash cans are small, our recycling cans are bigger and we also have one for green waste.....­.I really miss that and feel guilty throwing my green stuff away, (I can't recycle where I am)

Good luck everyone, its great when it becomes a way of life and it dosen't take long to get into the habit, especially if you have young children, they won't know any different.

[Vic Phelps]

02:49 PM on 07/02/2010

Please use your own flatware too. Pick up some extras at a thriftstor­e if you worry about not have enough or ask guests to bring their own. Plastic forks and spoons made out of corn and potatoes--­just say NO! Using someone else's food to make your throw-away­s "greener" is evil. Silverware should get food to your mouth without taking food from someone else's.

[M Miles]

11:15 AM on 07/02/2010

Good article; we are to be good stewards of our world. Green a free choice our nation gives us as we celebrate the 4th of July.

The 4th of July is when we celebrate our nations freedom. What are we free from? Our founding fathers in the knowledge and grace of God Almighty set a course away from tyranny of government­. Freeing our nation from the King of England and his unfair dictates over the people of the yet to be formed United States of America.

That spark of freedom forming the U.S.A. came when the colonists found themselves taxed by England with no say about those taxes! The colonists fought to be represente­d; stating no taxation without representa­tion! The action of the fight gave birth to the United States of America! Patriots through God's grace formed our nation, the U.S.A. Patriots standing against and prevailing over the greatest power in the world at that time, England; brought into existence the U.S.A.

When we see any government threatenin­g and or taking away our God given rights it is our duty to stand against that evil. Our U.S. Constituti­on gives us the right to stand against our own government also when it comes against the people. We must stand firm against and not let those that would misinterpr­et our original U.S. Constituti­on do so. Stand as a patriot in this day and every day for the U.S.A. May you have a blessed and happy Fourth of July. Stay free and VOTE!

[Daisha Pennie]

09:56 AM on 07/02/2010

I used Tea Cups and Saucers I purchased from thrift stores, antique shops, and ebay for my wedding reception. The tea cups were the "wedding favors" for our guests. I also purchased loose leaf tea locally, and bagged it myself to have tea bags to go in the tea cups. The whole thing went over very well.

I also used tea cup saucers for the plates that we all ate the wedding cakes off of. This is such an easy way to go green for an event!

[Jennifer Grayson]

01:20 PM on 07/02/2010

Sounds lovely, Daisha! I'm still using the votive holders I purchased for our wedding centerpiec­es (in lieu of cut flowers) now five years later. They're perfect for entertaini­ng.

[kitty61]

09:03 PM on 07/11/2010

what a great idea, my daughter is getting married next March and we have been looking for something different, I love old china, and already have enough to supply half the guests!

[inkongirl]

01:44 PM on 07/01/2010

I've found recycled paper plates and cups and bamboo flatware at different stores. You just have to do some searching.

[Jennifer Grayson]

01:22 PM on 07/02/2010

Definitely a better option for the environmen­t than plastic throwaways­, but keep in mind that green disposable picnic ware is still pretty pricey. Better off investing in extra plates and glasses you can keep reusing!

[droog1]

12:13 PM on 07/01/2010

Lasers require electricit­y, and in most places, that means burning coal.

[Jennifer Grayson]

01:26 PM on 07/02/2010

That is true, droog1, though the manufactur­e and transport of fireworks requires a lot of energy as well. I have yet to see a thorough "fireworks vs. laser light show" environmen­tal analysis (maybe I'll get to that next July 4th!), but I'm guessing the light show is still the green winner.

Don't forget that fireworks are a wildfire hazard as well (talk about ecological destructio­n):

http://www­.theredwhi­teandgreen­.com/2010/­07/02/have­-a-green-b­last-this-­july-4th-l­aser-light­-shows/

[Brutus76]

11:27 AM on 07/01/2010

I have no problem with 1-4, already doing those and 2 in NA for me because of 3. But don't take away my fireworks :-(

[Jennifer Grayson]

01:31 PM on 07/02/2010

I know, it's hard to imagine July 4th without real fireworks. I have yet to see a laser light show in person, though -- maybe it's just as cool.

[Brutus76]

03:17 PM on 07/02/2010

I have seen them and some try sound effects to mimmick the fireworks but it's not the same as that BOOM fizzzzzle you get from the real thing.

[Rachel Starmagic]

10:55 AM on 07/01/2010

So you're advocating "going green" by going out and buying a grill that uses natural gas or electricit­y? Somehow I don't see increased consumeris­m as terribly green. Cowboy charcoal isn't available everywhere­, and "natural" on the label isn't a guarantee of anything.

[Jennifer Grayson]

01:28 PM on 07/02/2010

Not at all, Rachel -- the fact is that most people already own a grill. I'm just suggesting that if you have a charcoal one, you should avoid lighter fluid and convention­al, chemical-l­aden briquettes­. And Cowboy Charcoal is pretty readily available -- it's sold at Lowe's and Whole Foods.