Ways to Green Your New Year’s Eve
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Stay home and celebrate
Seriously, I've always suspected that NYE is the night for people who don't go out any other night of year.
As green planet suggests
if you stay home and host your own ring-in-the-new shindig, you'll save transportation emissions—and, of course, money. You'll also be able to better control the environmental impact of your night, from sending out email invitations to preventing the food and paper waste that comes from bars and restaurants.
Gift away your unwanteds
Having a party at home is also a great opportunity to offload any unwanted 'stuff' you have to your guests (whether to keep/swap/exchange). Well read books, unwanted christmas presents, too small clothes...they all many be greatfully received by friends who have spent to much over the festive season...
Give the fireworks a miss
If you have pets avoid fire crackers and fireworks. They can obviously get quite frightened and distressed and go missing. They are pretty but I'd rather our respective councils and governments spend the money on something else to be honest.
Minimise the disposables
Plastic/glass reusable cups and a bucket of soapy water and tea towel can be preferable to picking plastic cups out of the rose bushes all new year's day. Some goes for plates and cutlery of course.
It also means you have more space in your recycle bins which you'll probably need. We have loads of anodised cups which we offer to guests, saving the need for plastic cups...
Recycle
Display the bins. Have the recycle bin and trash bins near in easy reach for guests. Saves clean up time and makes sure stuff gets recycled.
Eat local and get guests to contribute
Offer your guests local food where practical. We're making bbq with veggies from the garden. Most people have leftovers after christmas. This is time to invite your guests to bring them along. Besides, anything tastes good the next day when all the shops are closed....
Bulk can be better
Consider buying a keg of beer and returnable wine bottles. Both can be purchased in bulk and save you lots of money
Of course, buying local, green drinks is the best way to go to boot.
Reconsider that beer fridge
For a lot of people, a beer fridge come in handy over the festive season for storing cold drinks. It’s not a problem if you don’t mind wasting loads of electricity and emitting unnecessary greenhouse gases just so you can have a cold beer. Second fridges are usually old and inefficient and then placed in a spot where they will consume even more energy.
It would be far better to use some ice buckets, the added benefit being that the melted ice can go on the garden the next day.
If you're going out
Take public transport. There's no point driving and cabs will be crazy hard to get.
Party local
If you can, enjoy a local pub or restaurant in walking or biking distance from your home.
Lose the frou frou
Do you really need to be neon atrocities, hats, party popper and other environmental disasters that will end up in the bin? Seriously?
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