Red, White, Blue, and GREEN: Eco-Friendly 4th of July Ideas

Independence Day, one of the highlights of the summer in the U.S., brings to mind flags, parades, hot weather, and of course barbeques.  What would the 4th of July be without a few burgers, hot dogs, some potato salad, and of course our good friends?  The 4th of July barbeque is a time-honored tradition, one that in addition to food and fun can have negative impacts on the environment. 

Fortunately, there many things we can do to help minimize these environmental impacts, while still honoring our nation’s independence.  Here are some tips for greening your 4th of July barbeque, or any other outdoor gathering. 

1. Bring a cup:  Many of us break out plastic and paper cups at barbeques to cut down on cleanup and ensure there are enough cups for all the guests.  Instead of relying on one-time-use materials that end up taking up space in landfills, take a cue from medieval times – have your guests bring their favorite cup to use for the duration of the party.  You cut down on waste, and everyone knows which cup belongs to them.
2. Buy local:  Whether you’re in Cambodia or the U.S., you can have a more environmentally friendly barbeque simply by buying locally-grown foods.  In addition to supporting the local economy, you avoid contributing to the carbon emissions that are generated by trucks, trains, and boats that bring food from far-off places.
3. Living decorations:  If you like to display flowers on the tables at your events, consider using live, potted plants instead.  When the party is over, you can keep the plants at home, and they in turn help the planet by filtering carbon dioxide and producing oxygen for us to breathe.
4. Use recycled paper products:  Let’s face it, paper plates and napkins are a lot easier to use for an outdoor event.  However, we can still be green by looking for plates made from recycled paper products.  In addition to reducing the amount of waste in landfills, recycled products typically take a lot less energy to produce than new products.
5. Encourage volunteerism:  Since everyone’s outside enjoying the day anyway, why not take a cue from our President and encourage your friends and family to spend part of your time together volunteering.  For example, get together with your friends and neighbors to clean up a local park or other area – a little light work on a hot summer’s day makes the burgers and beer taste that much better!
6. Buy in bulk:  When stocking up for your barbeque bash, consider buying items in bulk if possible.  Things like large boxes of utensils and large bottles of soda actually use less packaging materials than smaller, individually packaged items.
7. Don’t sweat it: There’s no need to bake your guests or spend money and energy cramming people into an air-conditioned house.  Try scheduling your barbeque for a cooler, more comfortable time of day such as dusk. 
8. Carpooling isn’t just for work:  If you have a lot of people coming, encourage them to carpool when possible.  In smaller places like Phnom Penh, it’s especially easy for guests that live near each other to share a ride and save gas and emissions in the process.