Happy Fourth of July tomorrow! We know lots of you are looking for ways to make your celebration more sustainable. We looked at all the stories and here are the best suggestions.
- Re-Use Decorations — It’s Christmas in July – take out those leftover paper red napkins and plates and use them now! And think about a watermelon rind as a bowl and think about edible centerpieces as opposed to throw away paper decor. Here’s a list of eco-friendly crafts from Crafting Green World.
- Avoid Charcoal Grills — If you can, use a gas or electric grill because they emit much less air pollution — an estimated 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide are emitted from charcoal grills. And instead of meat, serve veggie or bean burgers to reduce your carbon footprint.
- Buy a Keg — If you are having a big party, ditch the bottles or cans of beer and get a keg. And use paper or reusable plastic cups.
- Just Watch Fireworks — Personal fireworks are another big source of pollution on the Fourth. Fireworks that fall to the ground contain propellant and colorant residue, which can make their way into lakes and rivers. When buying fireworks, biodegradable fireworks are a great alternative!
- Use Reef-Safe Sunscreens — According to NPR, more than 3,500 sun protection products contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, that are banned now in certain places because they bleach corals.
We hope you have a great Fourth of July holiday!
July 2, 2019 » air pollution, fireworks, fourth of July, grills, sustainability
