Group dinners, block parties, or picnics do not have to result in more garbage. If you take time to think about what typically gets thrown away, you may find that common types of trash can be reduced, reused, or recycled.
Food: Many people have a fear of running out of food when hosting a party, although over-preparation can lead to waste. If you have leftovers you cannot keep, plan ahead–ask guests to bring containers (or have some available) for taking food home, or use the leftovers later or freeze them. You might also consider posting leftover but still edible food on our local Buy Nothing group, accessible via Facebook.
Food scraps can go into your green compost cart. Reducing food waste is one of the easiest and most important steps you can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Dishes: When possible, use durable (reusable) dishes. Keep a stash of extra plates, cups, and utensils for unexpected guests: consider sourcing through second-hand stores or borrowing from a friend. Some foods don’t even need dishes, like ice cream cones, pizza, burritos, or cupcakes. If you’re attending a neighborhood picnic (National Night Out, for example), consider bringing your own reusable plate, fork, and cloth napkin.
Packaging: To reduce the amount of packaging that can come from buying for larger groups, many items can be bought in bulk instead of individual servings. All single-use items, whether made from plastic, “compostable/biodegradable,” or bamboo, go in the garbage. None of these products are recyclable or compostable in our system.
Liz Erickson has lived in the neighborhood with her husband and two children since 2009. Growing up in Beaverton, she remembers visiting grandparents on NE 42nd and walking to Rose’s Ice Cream for a scoop of butter brickle. Fun facts: She’s visited 46 states, 46 countries, is a Master Recycler volunteer with the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability and served in the Peace Corps in Morocco.