It's always a challenge to entertain people in a green fashion.  Anyone who's hosted a party or gathering knows just how much waste these good times can create!  But here's a chance to look for yourself at how much waste you can curb by making small modifications in the way you entertain, you'll see that this is a challenge you can definitely take on.     

It's always tempting to opt for the convenience of single use plates, cups and cutlery but these are by far the biggest waste-makers out of all your entertaining supplies.  These are usually plastic or styrofoam which are by-products of the petrolium industry or paper plates often made of virgin wood pulp.  Imagine how many trees we can save and how much pollution we can avoid if we make the use of these products obsolete!

If you're having less than 20 people over, use your own dishes and cups.  Have your guests label their cups and dishes so they can reuse the same ones all night long.  If you're a dish-washer user, using your own dishes isn't a big deal.  Even if you're a manual dish-washer, think of all the waste you'll be curbing just by doing dishes.  Surely enrolling a few good friends at the end of the party to help you in your environmental endeavor shouldn't be too hard.  

If you absolutely must use single-use stuff, check out your local eco-shop (and most grocery stores also stock some) and buy some corn-based biodegrable sets or biodegradable paper plates made of 100% recycled paper.  Bamboo plates, cups and cutlery that you can wash and reuse are also a great option. 

Cook using local and organic foods. We've all heard this advice before and sometimes it seems easier said than done.  But the green movement has taken off!  By now, you'll have no problem finding organic and local products in regular grocery stores.  It's just a matter of reading labels to check ingredients and the manufacturers location.  Beware of confusing 'imported by' or 'prepared by Company X for Company Y' with 'Made by'.   If You live in Ottawa, a product made in Toronto is definitely better than one made in China or Peru and imported by an Ottawa company.

To take it one step further, throw a 'Local fare' themed party and make all your snacks from ingredients bought at your nearest farmer's market.  Or get your guests in on it and invite them to bring local snacks and/or refreshments like a local wine or beer.  Better yet have every guest bring local food or drink and have a tasting.  What a perfect (and fun) way to introduce your family and friends to local Green possibilities!

Once the party is over, send your guests home with left-overs so that nothing goes to waste.  Avoid using aluminum foil and celophane wrap.  Instead, have your guests bring their own tupperware (ask this of them at the inviting stage of the party-prep) or send them home with some of your own tupperware.  Or reuse plastic yogurt, sour cream or cottage cheese containers to avoid never seeing your good tupperware again!