How to Have an Eco-Friendly Summer BBQ

Summer barbecues are lots of fun and they don't have to be excessively wasteful like the normal barbecue normally is. It is easy to make a few changes that will actually cost you less to have an ecofriendly barbecue than to have the traditional one.

Invitations: Invite friends and family using phone calls, a web page, or free email cards rather than using paper invitations to save paper. If you must use invitations, then use recycled paper invitation purchased at a store or make your own recycled paper for your own personal green invitations. If your home-made invitations are really nice, they can double as art for the receiver if they frame it.

Decorations: Use decorations that are durable and reusable if you decide to decorate. Instead of using tissue paper type disposable table clothes, use durable ones that can be wiped down, folded up, stored, and re-used next summer too.

Recycle household items to use for table centerpieces if you plan on using centerpieces. Or just set out pretty bowls and vases to hold either cuts flowers from your garden or floating candles. The candles can be ecofriendly ones as well.

If you need to use placeholders, then consider using place holders that double as useful gifts. Like framed pictures of the guests that they will be happy to keep. Or put out a little appetizer or snack food with a little flag created by a toothpick and paper with their name on it. My daughter loves to make little flags like this.

Another placeholder idea that consumes very little is to use the cake decorating pens or some chocolate syrup to write the guests initials or name on their plates across the top. This wipes off very easy if you allow dishes to soak in a tub of soapy water prior to washing.

Serving Ware: Use plates that can be washed. If you use plastic-ware for barbecues, wash them and reuse it for future barbecues. Most black or white plastic forks, spoons, and knives can be washed in a dish washer. I use some plastic forks, spoons, and knifes regularly because I keep extras in my purse or in my truck center console in case I end up needing them - and I wash mine in a dishwasher using ecofriendly soap.

Put out a tub of soapy water for guests to put their plates and silverware in when they are finished eating so that they can soak. This will prevent the sauces and food remains from getting crusty and guests will be less likely to throw plastic-ware in a trash can. You might need to put a little paper sign up too.

Food: Give guests a reminder call before you buy your food to make sure that they are coming. If you put out appetizers, use trays or plates that can be reused. Buy foods that are natural or organic. If you local stores do not carry any or it is not reasonable, check out the options online. If you buy organic or free-roaming animal meats online in big packages, you get a discount.

Use locally grown produce or organic and natural options found in your local grocery store. Most grocery store chains have at least an entire aisle filled with ecofriendly, organic, and natural snack foods. Look for items that are produced in a way friendly to the environment and also that do not have excess packaging. Make sure the packaging can be recycled. These can also be ordered online - there are many websites offering snack foods, cake mixes, cookie mixes, and mac and cheese online that are organic or natural.

Green Grilling: There are several options to making your grilling more green including solar cooking grills, which can be made or purchased at a store. Solarcooking.org has several plans with pictures and illustrations available. Solar cooking works well if you have an area in full sun. However, if sun is not always available or your barbecue falls on a cloudy day, then you will need an alternative option.

If you already have a grill then use what you have. Throwing away a perfectly good grill is not good for landfills. Propane gas is cleaner for the environment than charcoal. However, charcoal is now available in many green options making it a much cleaner choice than using traditional charcoal. If you do change grills, sell, donate, or give your grill to a needy family because it is better to recycle your old grill by giving it a new home where it will be used until it is no longer usable. Also, if you live in an area or have a property where wood is readily available, then cooking over wood rather than charcoal would be a sustainable option for you.

Green charcoals are becoming popular for those who like to cook over charcoal. Kamado Charcoal from www.tropicalcharcoal.com is an option that is 100% sustainable made from coconut husks or sustainably harvested wood. It is smokeless, ash-less, 100% natural, 50% pure charcoal, 50% hotter, 50% longer burn, and 100% satisfaction guaranteed. There are many options available now, some even at your local Lowes. There is an excellent extensive list on Greenyour.com in the resources at the end of this article.

If you grill vegetables, there are grill racks available that are reusable. However, if you really love to use aluminum foil use the recycled kind and toss it in your aluminum can recycle bin when you are done so that it can be recycled again.

Clean up: Use ecofriendly and organic products when you clean up. If you have some stubborn food to clean up, throw a 1/2 cup of baking soda in the water. Stir it up and let it soak. Baking soda is powerful, it can be scattered on a dirty oven bottom, sprayed with water, and allowed to soak to completely clean a crusty over. Sometimes this has to be repeated, but this can be a powerful cleaner.

Hostess Gifts: If your guests tend to bring hostess gifts, tell them clearly what you are interested in receiving so they won't gift gifts that are not wanted. Some ecofriendly barbecues and parties ask guests to bring a small donation to give to a local green cause or organization like a non-profit supporting a park. Recycling is part of being green, so some parties and barbecue hosts like to put out a basket for donations of unwanted clothes to bring to a shelter or unwanted towels and sheets to supply a local animal shelter.

Games: Choose game options that do not generate a lot of unneccesary waste. Instead of having a water balloon fight, use squirt animals instead that can double as toys later or be packed away and used again for the next barbecue or next year.

Choose game options that can be more permanent like a real set of horseshoes, bocci balls, or other games that are durable. For instance, you can pay a few dollars for cheap plastic ones that will break down and crack before the summer ends, or you can get durable sets at Target or local sports centers that are well-made, durable, and even have their own permanent packing case that can last a lifetime if taken care of properly. It might cost a little more to buy the better made set; however, you will save time and money because you will not have to buy replacement ones each year and you will prevent the trash resulting from poorly made cheaper options breaking down.

The Cob Solar Oven, SolarCooking.org
The Reflective Open Box Solar Cooker, SolarCooking.org
Buy Eco-Friendly Charcoal, Greenyour.com