Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
- Reusable decorations
- Organic foods
- Soy-based candles
Step1
Party before the fireworks. Consider a daytime party so you can make the most use of natural light. If you do need to run into the evening hours, consider soy candles placed strategically to add ambiance without the expense or the waste.
Step2
Take it outdoors. Don’t bother renting a room that needs to be decorated with paper and plastic. Use your yard for the party setting and let your landscaping be the décor. Choose a corner of the yard where guests can find some shade to set up chairs and tables to party the day away.
Step3
Paper or plastic. Use neither, in this case. Depending on the type of party you’re throwing, you can decide if your good glass or china dishware will work. Using everyday reusable dishes instead of plastic or paper throw-away types cuts out the waste and usually sets a prettier table. If kids are attending then consider hard-plastic reusable plates instead of glass. The same goes for cups and cutlery. If you want to have theme-colored plates, consider white plates with interchangeable red and blue cloth napkins, or red and blue reusable cups.
Step4
Independent decorating. Making a centerpiece that wows your guests can be as simple as floating candles in a few wood bowls with some rose petals or a bunch of daisies artfully arranged in a small, wicker basket or a simple glass vase. You can buy small American flags at the dollar store and plant them in with the flowers for a festive addition. You can always reuse the flags next year.
Step5
Fresh fare. Show your greener side and have plenty of organic veggies and fruits for your guests, along with whole food dishes. Avoid pre-packaged foodstuffs as much as possible to cut out the waste as well as the calories and fat. Your guests and the environment will thank you later.
Enthusiast 
