How to have a zero waste cookout

The best way to have a zero-waste cookout is to plan well from the start while being conscious of what you need. For instance, I made sure to check if I had any disposable cups or plates beforehand, and I found an entire unopened bag of cups in my cupboard. While the goal of this cookout is to have no waste, if you have already bought something in the past you should definitely use it. Disposable plates aren’t even necessary though, which is why I called and asked people to bring their own plates and utensils if they could, and washed all of my plates the night before so we wouldn’t be creating unnecessary waste.

Compostable utensils can be a good replacement for the disposable plastic ones, but it is important to keep in mind that they still have to be placed in a compost bin since they won’t break down in a landfill.  For drinks, I bought them in bulk and poured them in metal and glass cups.

When buying food, I made sure I had a good headcount on who I knew was coming so I would not have too much food waste. This step is important, but don’t sweat it too much because everyone loves leftovers. One tip I found very helpful is to get the meat from the butcher at the grocery store and not just from the frozen area. Meat packaging is not very sustainable, and having a freshly cut rack of ribs from the butcher tasted way better than the packaged ribs. Also, don’t be afraid to ask people attending if they might have any food in their house to bring. I learned that one of my friends makes very good mashed potatoes because he had extra in his house that he brought to the cookout. For vegetables like collard greens or corn on the cob, try to avoid plastic. This includes produce bags. Many grocery stores will allow you not to use them; you just have to ask.

Store-bought decorations can add up to create a lot of waste, so it is important to keep in mind what you do and don’t need. Balloons are nice, but how many times do they end up floating away mid cookout? This year I made signs and other decorations by myself, and I can keep using them next year. Also, homemade decorations can be a fun arts and crafts project to do beforehand. You could even make it a contest between the people attending your cookout to see who makes the best decoration. If you want to buy decorations, make sure they can be reused for future events. For instance, my friends spray painted an old table cloth with cool designs from TV shows we watch, and now I can use that for a very long time.