by Marti Matsch

How’s this for a humbug? During the holidays our trash rates in the United States increase by a staggering 25 percent.

It’s the packaging, the presents and the parties: From Thanksgiving dinner to New Year’s toasts and all the gatherings in between, we bloat the landfills with disposable products like flimsy red plastic plates, Styrofoam cups and plastic spoons, forks and knives — all made from non-renewable resources that took millions of years for Earth to create, and only 30 to 60 minutes for us to use before they hit the trash can and head for the landfill. And there they will sit for a few million years or more since plastic doesn’t decompose.

Tossing things like paper napkins and food also contributes significantly to our holiday enviro-woes since food and other biodegradable materials in a landfill break down without air, so they create methane, a greenhouse gas 72 times more potent than carbon dioxide over the short-term.

Keep your party pants on — there’s a solution. Eco-Cycle has provided some easy tools and tips to help you celebrate eco-style.

First the tools: Eco-Cycle’s Zero Waste Event Kit

Whether you’re planning a winter wedding for 300 or cocktails and hors d’oeuvres for 25, you can keep the cleanup easy and still avoid the petroleum-based plastic pile-up with the Zero Waste Event Kit (ZWEK). The ZWEK provides you with compostable tableware and cutlery made from plant starches instead of plastic. So you can sip a little cider from corn starch instead of petroleum, cut the fruit cake with a knife made from potato starch and bring out the figgy pudding in bowls made from bagasse, a sugarcane byproduct.

From the moment they arrive, guests know there’s something different about this party. Zero Waste educational signs on the tables let them know this party’s going planet-friendly. Compost collection containers provided with the kit come with guideline posters with pictures so guests know the bowls, plates, napkins, utensils and food scraps are made to be composted, not trashed. Guideline posters are also provided for recycling bins to catch the food and beverage containers.

When the party’s over, both the recycling and composting can be set out with your regular curbside collection where service exists. Larger volumes or materials from a party in a community without curbside service can be taken to the Eco-Cycle/Boulder Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHaRM).

If you’re using a caterer, they may already be familiar with Zero Waste parties, as the use of ZWEKs is getting more common. Caterers help out by bringing only items that can be reused, recycled or composted. If they’re not familiar, we hear most are excited to learn.

To get your kit, visit www.ecocycle.org, or call 303-444-6634 to custom order the number and types of tableware, containers and signage you need. Please allow three business days before picking up your kit.

Then some tips:

Choose to reuse
Even better than the ZWEK is the use of reusable tableware and napkins since reusing always needs fewer resources. If you do not own enough of an item, rent from a local rental company. You can find reusable resources at www.ecocycle.org.

Eco-ize your invites
Try electronic invitations for informal events. When sending paper invitations, select those made from post-consumer recycled paper or tree-free alternatives, such as hemp. Make sure your invitation is recyclable. Avoid bright-colored, dark-colored, fluorescent or metallic papers, all of which cannot be recycled. You can find electronic invitations at www.evite.com, or www.sendomatic.com. Recycled paper and invitations are available locally in health food stores and some bookstores, and online at www.twistedlimbpaper.com or www.conservatree.org.

Start spreading the word
Talk up your Zero Waste efforts in your invitation. Ask guests to support you by recycling the invitation and by bringing only reusable, recyclable or compostable items with them to the event (especially important if you are hosting a potluck).

Green your transportation
Encourage your guests to bike, walk, take the bus or carpool to your party rather than drive in separate vehicles. Include information about bus routes and nearby bike paths in your invitation. Guests can map their trip by bus with the Front Range Public Transportation Trip Planner at www.rtd-denver.com.

Offset the carbon
To counteract the carbon emissions produced by guest travel and your party’s energy use, purchase carbon offsets for your event. Companies selling these “green credits” can help you calculate how many offsets you’ll need. Find a list of truly renewable, carbon-free offset providers that do not use landfill gas in our Zero Waste Holiday Guide at www.ecocycle.org.

Go for eco-deco
Avoid decorations designed for one-time use (streamers, balloons, etc.). Create centerpieces from what you have, like a pottery piece or glass ornament balls. Or use sprigs of evergreen trees and then compost them. Try making centerpieces from fresh fruit and vegetables. When using flowers, buy local, organically grown flowers whenever possible, or choose potted plants to provide a year-round green.

Clean it up
Pack leftover food in reusable containers. Avoid plastic wraps, plastic bags and wax paper. Arrange in advance to donate extra food to a local food bank, or invite your guests to take home any leftovers. Avoid toxic chemicals when cleaning. Consider making your own non-toxic cleaners at home. Many basic cleaners can be made from non-toxic ingredients, such as baking soda, Borax, white vinegar, lemon juice and washing soda.

If you decide to purchase cleaning supplies, pick products made with non-toxic ingredients. Visit www.ecocycle.org for non-toxic cleaner recipes or to shop for staff-recommended cleaners on Eco-Cycle eStore. Visit our hard-to-recycle guide if you’re not sure how to reuse or recycle a material leftover from your event.

Learn more: Check out more ideas and resources at www.ecocycle.org/seasonal/winter/ to help you party like it’s 2009: a little bit greener and a little bit smarter.

Marti Matsch is communications director for Eco-Cycle.