Memorial
Day, the unofficial start of summer and outdoor cooking season is right around
the corner. Unfortunately, outdoor cooking is too often connected with a
tremendous amount of waste. Make this year’s summer the “summer of green” with
these eco-friendly alternatives for a low-impact summer barbecue:
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1.
Washable Dishes and Cutlery
We
use paper plates and plastic cutlery because we’re afraid of breakage and we
don’t like washing them. But this year, ditch the paper plates and plastic cups
and use real, eco-friendly
dinnerware. The risk of breakage is minimal over grass. If
disposable is an absolute MUST, use compostable products like bamboo.
2.
Cloth Napkins
Over
3,000 tons of paper towel waste is produced in the U.S. daily. One ton of them
consume 20,000 gallons of water and 17 trees. Consider instead leaving a stack
of cloth napkins for guests and providing a hamper for collection and washing. If
you prefer not to buy cloth napkins, make
your own.
3.
A Low-Carbon Grill
Grilling
is one of the barbecue’s largest contributors to the carbon footprint. Cheaper charcoals
are full of chemicals and contribute to air pollution. Instead, consider ’natural
charcoal’ made from hardwood that contains no additives thereby producing less
ash. Natural gas comes from fracking, which also has several negative
environmental side affects. For a cleaner option, consider purchasing an electric,
infrared grill or even a solar grill. Check out 5 Green Grilling
Options for a Smog-Free Summer.
4.
Local Veggies
The
freshest, most nutritious food can be found at the local farmer’s market. Purchase
fresh vegetables the morning of the barbecue and support a local farmer while
you’re at it.
5.
Recycling and Composting Bins
Provide
a separate bin for recyclables and food scraps making for easy transfer to
municipal recycling bins. In this way people can reduce landfill waste.
6. DIY Condiments
Ketchup,
mustard, and relish are staples at any American barbecue, but reduce waste by
making your own and storing it in reusable glass jars. Learn about 4 Homemade
Condiment Recipes.
7.
Natural Bug Repellent
Instead
of using commercial toxic sprays, make your own natural repellent or try one of
these three
chemical-free gadgets.
8.
Solar-Powered Tunes
Invest
in a solar powered boombox to play your background backyard tunes. Use on-board
Bluetooth technology to stream your favorite station and the sun’s free energy
to keep your phone charged!
9.
Reusable Bags and Storage Containers
Use
reusable cloth bags to bring home barbecue supplies. Minimize plastic garbage
bags by using larger, washable boxes or containers like those made by
Rubbermaid for transferring recyclables or carrying dinnerware without damaging
it.
Read more
at ENN affiliate, Care2.
Electric grill image via Buzzle.