How to Throw an Eco-Friendly Dinner Party

Ditch the regular paper invitations. Use online invitation services such as Evite or American Greetings to email your guests their invite. You'll save trees and money on postage (and no one likes to lick those envelopes!). If you're throwing a more formal get together that requires traditional, mailed invites, consider making your own from recycled or homemade paper.

Design your menu to include as many local foods and drinks as you can. Area farmer's markets have a wide variety of local produce and meats available and some Grocery stores carry them as well. Regional or neighborhood wineries and breweries are a great place to purchase your beverages. Buying local saves in shipping costs and fuel consumption, reducing emissions and pollution.

Use sustainable tableware. Regular plates, cups, cutlery and tablecloths save on trash buildup. You don't have to bring out the good stuff; lots of large retail stores carry inexpensive, attractive dinnerware many made from recycled plastics. If you must go disposable, choose a recycled or biodegradable variety.

Decorate your tables with natural or recycled items. With a little effort the ordinary can become quite beautiful. Gather leaves and pinecones for a fall party or tie napkins with long blades of grass. Use the wine corks from your bottles as name cardholders. Anything is possible with a little creativity.

Put out recycling bins along with regular trashcans. Encourage your guests to dispose of any recyclable material in the bins.