When it comes to living plastic-free, party supplies can be the last thing you might think about. But it’s so easy to shift to plastic-free options, why not put them on your list now?

You’ll save money in the long run by buying long-lasting reusable supplies once instead of throwaways over and over again. And you’ll throw away a lot less trash, too.(We’re updating this post for Plastic-Free July 2020.)

NOTE: Even though “compostable” paper plates and napkins are available, they usually can only be composted in an industrial facility – not in your home compost pile. If they are “recyclable,” check with your local recycling facility to see if they will accept them – many don’t.

Here are the 5 Plastic-Free Party Supplies I Have That You Don’t Want to Miss

Here’s a picture of the plastic-free party supplies I usually use.

1. Plates – I have several sizes of reusable plates: salad-sized dinnerware for buffets, and full-sized plates for potluck dinners. I have bought the salad-sized plates over time when they were on sale after the Christmas holidays.

The dinner-sized reusable plates are by Preserve. They’re made from 100% recycled #5 plastic. They’re dishwasher-friendly and if you ever decide you want to get rid of them, Preserve will take them back and recycle them. I have both the 10.5″ size and the 7″ size, which are perfect for dessert, fruit, or salad.

NOTE: I normally don’t recommend using recycled plastic, but because these last so long and you won’t be throwing them away, they’re a good alternative, especially for an outdoor picnic or party.

2. Napkins – I went to the local Dollar store and bought the festive 100% cotton bandanas pictured above. They’re big enough to cover a lap, colorful, and very easy to wash. I think I have around 50 of them at this point. They’re good for picnics, too.

3. Table cloths – If you like to have seasonal or holiday themed table cloths (like for birthday parties, Thanksgiving, or Christmas), you’ll find a wide variety of reusable cotton table cloths online, at thrift stores, on sale in department stores, and at local yard sales. At this point, I have reusable table cloths for the 4th of July, Halloween, general birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, plus table cloths I use for picnics.

4. Forks, Knives, Spoons – Plastic-free cutlery makes so much sense. The plastic stuff is usually so weak it breaks (I was at a party just today where the knives and forks weren’t strong enough and kept splintering.) You can get a 36-piece set of stainless steel flatware on Amazon that will last you 20 or 30 years. The set includes 12 each of a fork, knife and teaspoon.

5. Glasses/Cups/Tumblers – Of all the items listed here, glasses take up the most space. I have about 40 8 oz. glasses at this point, and I keep them in a couple of boxes that I stack and put in the back of a closet.

NOTE: You can get stackable stainless steel pint cups, with the advantage being both that they’re durable and they are unbreakable. But the smallest size they come in is 10 oz. I prefer to serve smaller drink portions, which is why I go with an 8 oz. glass. Figure out what’s right for you.

Preserve, the same company that makes reusable plastic plates, also makes reusable cups. They’re a bit big for me, but they might be perfect for you. Take a look.

I store all the table cloths, plates, napkins and cutlery in the cute duffle bag in the picture. Then I just tuck the bag out of the way in a closet, where it can easily be retrieved.

Get More “Green” Party Tips Right Here!

Where Can You Get Affordable Plastic-Free Party Supplies?

Speaking of Sales…

I buy many plastic-free party supplies on sale. All holiday-themed supplies will be 50 or 60 or 70% off the day after the holiday. Department stores like Macy’s, as well as the Big Box stores like Wal Mart and Target, are the place to look for post-holiday supply sales.

Borrow and Lend…

A Big Green Purse reader (and neighbor) wrote recently to say she’d accumulated enough reusable plates and glasses for a party for 40. She has let the neighborhood know that they’re available for anyone to borrow!

The post How Many Of These 5 Plastic-Free Party Supplies Are You Missing? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

By the way, the #1 best way to save the environment is by not consuming so much in the first place, right? The less you buy and throw away, the better. The “3 R’s” begin with REDUCE, after all!

Also, make sure you check with your local municipal solid waste office to verify what you can and can’t recycle in your community. Some communities let you recycle everything – including the kitchen sink! Others offer more limited options. Recycle as much as you can, and pay attention to what you can’t so you can buy less of it and figure out creative ways to reuse it.

NOTE: Sponsors like BetterCleans.com enable us to bring you the expert content you need to lead the greener life you want. Our editorial opinions remain our own. Thanks!

The post 7 Easy Ways To Recycle At Home appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Recycling should be a no-brainer by now. But it can still be confusing. That’s why I partnered with JunkKing.com to highlight the nine most common recycling mistakes you probably make every week.

I’m not trying to make you feel bad – especially since I’ve made some of these mistakes myself.

But hopefully, this handy infographic will help you realize you could be recycling a lot more than you actually are.

JunkKing.com says – and I agree – that “One of the greatest ways to reduce our carbon footprints on an individual or household basis, and one of the easiest, is to recycle.”

We Americans create 254 million tons of waste every year, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. That amounts to around 4 pounds of waste per person PER DAY!!

If all the recyclable materials in that waste stream were properly disposed of, we’d keep about $7 billion worth of resources out of landfills.

Learning how to avoid mistakes can ensure that more waste is properly recycled for a better and cleaner planet.

Don’t Miss:

Top 10 Things You Can Recycle At Home

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Here’s my Top 10 “No Brainer” List of what you should be recycling today – and every day. I call them “no brainers” because they’re relatively easy to do in many communities, because it doesn’t cost you anything to do them, and because they have a big environmental impact.

1.  Newspapers and magazines (though to reduce how much you need to recycle, cancel subscriptions to magazines you don’t read, and read newspapers and magazines online when possible)

2. Junk mail, office paper, and catalogs (here’s how to reduce the amount of junk mail you get in the first place; reduce office paper waste by printing on both sides, circulating documents electronically rather than on hard copy, and using software to reduce excess paper use; here’s how to cut catalog overload)

3. Paper bags and packaging from the grocery store, hardware store, or department store (reduce paper packaging waste by using reusable shopping bags.)

4. Plastic bags (if your community recycling program won’t take them, most grocery stores that still use them now take them back. Avoid them in the first place by using reusable bags.)

5. Plastic milk jugs (choose paper cartons instead if those are easier to recycle where you live.)

6. Plastic juice and beverage bottles (choose glass or cans if those are easier to recycle where you live.)

7. Electronics, including computers, fax machines, and especially cell phones (Best Buy, Office Depot and Staples will recycle your electronics for you; most phone companies will take your old phone and recycle it.)

8. Aluminum cans (pretty much all aluminum cans can be recycled, including those that contained soda pop, alcoholic beverages, and energy drinks.)

9. Clothing (recycle your clothes by donating to charity, selling at thrift shops, giving to neighbors and friends, or repurposing them as rags and even pillow-stuffings; send your shoes to SolesforSouls.org)

10. Food (recycle food waste into compost, to use in fertilizing vegetable and flower beds, trees and bushes)

Want More Ideas?

Top Ten Ways to Control Catalog Overload

Recycling Your Computer Just Got Easier

How to Recycle CFLs

Can You Recycle Your Car?

America Recycles Day

What else do you recycle?

The post Top 10 “No-Brainer” Things You Should Recycle on America #RecyclesDay appeared first on Big Green Purse.