Green Party Tips & Ideas for Labour Day Weekend

FourGreenSteps.com

Written by Madiha Boolani, Four Green Steps

Labour Day weekend is the one holiday everyone looks forward to. Most people celebrate the end of summer with a cookout. The timing's perfect-its right before its time to go back to school. BBQ=Carbon emissions? Not always! You can still enjoy the cookout party and the weekend with family and friends without compromising on your green values. Here are a few tips to stay green on labour weekend!

  1. Say no to individual bottles and aluminum cans! Serve pitchers of fresh lemonade, ice water, juices and even sangria!

  2. No more plastic cutlery and paper napkins. Use reusable flatware and cloth napkins which can be washed. Or use items that are biodegradable.

  3. Plates, plates, plates: Use biodegradable or compostable plates made from bamboo or recyclable paper.

  4. Drink Up. No need to fill up landfills with paper cups! Use glassware or tumblers for your drinks. If you want to stick with paper cups, keep a sharpie so people can label their cups and reuse them instead of getting a new one each time.

  5. Save the animals. Make the BBQ green with delicious veggie burgers, vegan ribs and beach skewers!

  6. Bond as a family. You don't always need to organize a cookout to enjoy a long weekend. Plant a tree, start a compost bin, set up rain barrels, go hiking or get busy with a DIY project. There are many green activities to choose from!

  7. Make your invites green. Use emails or mass texts to spread the word. If you must have actual invitations, use paper that is recyclable or biodegradable and hand deliver them.

  8. Plan eco friendly activities. Run around, sing your favourite songs with a karaoke system, play a game of ultimate Frisbee or Mafia and enjoy the end of summer.

  9. Grill green: Use Forest Stewardship Certified coal which reduces greenhouses gases released from charcoal burns.

  10. DIY decorations: Love themed BBQS? Don't waste money on themed paper plates, decorations, streamers and the sorts. Make it a craft day and have some good ol' fun. Hunt the house for things you could use for decorations and make streamers, paper chandeliers and paper lanterns yourself!