by Texas Homesteader ~ 

How do you host a fun party without all the expensive single-use items simply bound for the trash afterward?

Here are some tips for hosting inexpensive & fun yet low-waste parties. Everything from saving money, low waste dining and fun waste-free party game ideas. 

 

(Note: Some links in this post will take you to other related articles for further information. But links preceded with * are affiliate links. If you click and buy something I could receive a tiny commission.)

How To Have An Inexpensive Low-Waste Party

There are easy ways to host a low-waste party. Whether a holiday gathering in your home or outdoor family reunion.

We’ll talk about our favorite zero-waste party tricks such as:

• • • How To Reduce Disposables

    • Compostable Flatware

    • Zero Waste Games & Entertainment Ideas

    • Dealing With Compostables, & Recyclables

Low-Waste Party Tip: Are Real Plates More Effort?

You may wonder: “Is it really worth the trouble to put out (and wash) regular plates for a larger gathering than to use something disposable?”

Don’t automatically assume disposable options for a party must be more convenient. Here’s how much effort I’m faced with using our existing household plates:

Scrape plates, load into dishwasher, push button.

I realize that if you have to hand-wash your dishes you may feel differently. But for me there’s just no downside to using our own household plates and flatware.

Buying Inexpensive Reusable Party Dining Ware

If you’re uncomfortable using your household plates and utensils for a party, go to thrift stores and buy lightweight plates and flatware specifically for party use. 

Those party dishes are simply washed and stored in tubs along with other party items to be used again next time.

It’s still a cheaper option than purchasing disposable dining items just to throw them away and buy again.

I just use my plain ole everyday plates. They’re *Corelle Plates and they’re dang near indestructible.

Eco-Friendly Disposable Plates Option

If you need more plates than you have, (additional plates for desserts for instance), you can get heavy *Non-Coated Paper Plates.

At least they’re compostable and won’t have to be sent to the landfill.

What About Compostable Flatware?

If there will be many littles in attendance where you’re not quite guaranteed to get your good flatware back, there are still options. You can use these *compostable bamboo utensils instead.

Using ‘disposable’ Bamboo Utensils is a great option for outside parties, offsite picnics and such.

After the party the used bamboo utensils can also be dropped into the bucket labeled ‘compostables’ along with any uneaten food or paper plates.

Sorting Party Discards That Are NOT Trash

It’s easy to set up a few empty 5-gallon buckets with a large label on each one:

GLASS / PLASTICS

ALUMINUM

COMPOSTABLE

TRASH

Recyclable plastics, glass and aluminum can be recycled. The compostable items will all get dumped into a *Tumbling Composter.

And finally what little trash you have can be disposed of properly. For our parties the trash bucket is the emptiest one of all since almost all other materials have already been separated out.

Zero-Waste Party Fun & Game Ideas

Our country-style family reunion always includes a competition game of some sort. And they always have a ranch theme.

We oftentimes hold a *Cornhole Game tournament. We even made our own Personalized Cornhole Boards with a funny image custom-painted on them.

(Potty humor of a small child? Yes, but still fun!)

Other times we’ve had other low-waste games such as:

• • • Scavenger hunts (looking for cattle tags, etc)

    • Golf drive competitions (off piles of manure!)

    • Relay races 

    • Homemade piñatas using paper animal feed sacks

    • Frisbee golf using huge cattle-feed tub lids & hay rings

Waste-Free Country Party Fun With A Hayride

If you have enough room you can take party attendees on a hayride. The kids especially love this time.

We pile clean but spent hay from around a hay ring thickly on the floor of our flatbed trailer. It provides cushion for the ride.

After our party we simply sweep the hay onto the ground. It’s an all-natural material that will degrade over time, enriching the earth below. Plus it’s zero waste and FREE.

We also enjoy a bonfire at the end of the evening.

Water-Gun Fights For Low-Waste Party Fun

At our bonfire we have large 30-gallon tubs filled with water for fire safety. 

We bring along several lightweight *Water Cannon Toys. The grandkids excitedly grab the water cannons and fill ’em up from those tubs and have a good old-fashioned water gun fight with their siblings & cousins.

It’s probably the highlight of their celebration and the adults often join into the water play as well. It’s a fun way to cap off the evening, cool off and enjoy each other’s company.

Your Favorite Ways For A Low-Waste Party

Even if you’re not having a party in a country setting where you’ll be able to offer hayrides and bonfires, hopefully you’ve gathered some helpful low-waste party tips for your own parties.

What are YOUR favorite ways to host a low-waste party?

~TxH~

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Links In This Post:

• Our Country Family Reunion – RanchFest
• Benefits of Buying From a Thrift Store
• *Where To Find Corelle Dishes
• *Non-Coated Compostable Paper Plates
• 3 Rainwater Systems Used On Our Homestead
• Using Compostable Utensils  
• *Find Compostable Bamboo Utensils
• *Tumbling Composter Makes Composting Easy
• Make Your Own Customized Cornhole Board
• *Where To Find Cornhole Games      
• Using Natural Straw In Your Garden
• *Water Cannon Toys

Other Party-Related Posts:

Low-Waste Party Ideas

• How To Host A Low-Waste Party
  Stress-Free Baby Shower For A Boy
• Our Country-Style Family Reunion

Party Food

• Sheet Pan Quesadillas To Feed A Crowd
• Southwest Style Quesadillas
• Easy Individual Tortilla Pizzas

Treats

• Homemade Chocolate Fudgesicles
• Banana & Berry Frozen Nice Cream
• Homemade Peach Ice Cream
• No-Bake Mini-Nest Filled With Treats

Cakes / Pies

• No-Bake Lemon Ice Box Pie
• Chocolate Crazy Cake – No Eggs, Butter or Milk
• (Chocolate Stir-n-Frost Frosting)
• Individual Mason-Jar Instant Pot Cheesecake
• (Whipped Cream w/Honey)
• Homemade Fudgy Brownies
• Sweet Potato Brownies (Gluten Free – No Refined Sugar)
• No-Bake Peanut Butter Fudge

Snacks

• Homemade Hummus Made In Minutes!
• Easy Homemade Crackers
• MYO Pita Chips Using Flour Tortillas
• Sweet Treat Trail Mix
• Fresh Homemade Pico de Gallo
• Easy Classic Deviled Eggs
• 3-Ingredient Cake Mix Cookies
• Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies
• Air Fryer Crispy Chickpeas
• 4-Ingredient Triple Chocolate No-Bake Truffles

Easy Beverages

• Frozen Watermelon Smoothie or Daiquiri
• Chai Tea
• Homemade Rich Chocolaty Hot Cocoa

Gift Ideas

• Diaper Wreath for a Baby Girl
• 2nd Baby Girl Diaper Wreath with Booties
• Arrowhead Collage
• Big Honkin’ List Of Homemade Gifts We’ve Given

All Eco-Friendly Posts

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