As the celebrations get underway in San Mateo County for Independence Day, let’s remember to add some green to our red, white, and blue. Here are a few ways to make sure we keep our festivities fun while preventing stormwater pollution.
1. Ditch the Disposable Party Ware
Sure they’re popular and may seem easier, but disposable plates, cups, utensils and straws add to landfills and can even find themselves in our waterways if they’re not properly disposed. Show your pride in America the Beautiful and our county and use tableware that can just be washed and reused for your July Fourth get-together. Looking to get out of doing dishes? Try a “bring your own plate” theme or encourage folks to bring reusable containers to bring home leftovers. A similar concept works for glassware. Instead of charging a cocktail fee, a party-goer’s ticket is his or her own glass or reusable cup.
2. Use Large Water Containers
Plastic water bottles is one way to stay hydrated, but they create more waste Instead of individual plastic bottles, store water for your family or guests in large containers so they can re-fill their reusable water bottles or cups. If you must use plastic water bottles, be sure to have a clearly marked receptacle where your guests can place the empties for recycling.
3. Nix the fireworks
Instead of setting up your own fireworks display—which explodes a personal contribution of smoke and dangerous chemicals into the air and ultimately our water—attend a community display. Go a step further and ask your local firework coordinators to consider using biodegradable fireworks or the gunpowder-free fireworks that launches using compressed air.
Check out a list of different Fourth of July celebrations going on in San Mateo county here.
