Whether you love to ring in the new year with a big night out on the town with parties or a quiet evening at home, here are a few ways to celebrate with a greener New Year’s Eve:
Going out?
If you’re headed away from home, try to ride with a friend as a way to cut back on fuel and emissions.
Staying in?
If you’re hosting a party, use glass plates, glassware, and real silverware instead of disposables. If you’re short on supplies, borrow from a neighbor or recycle tableware by making a quick trip to a local thrift store.
Scavenge your cupboards and shelves for unique glassware – whether serving trays, bowls, candlesticks or glasses. Pair them with beeswax candles or LED lights and you’ll have eclectic and glitzy (not to mention affordable) decorations.
Make sure you serve finger foods, appetizers and small desserts. Not only will this help with your grocery bill, but it also should cut back on food waste. (Last year we made our own stuffed pretzels from scratch. Messy, for sure, but delicious.)
Make your own party goods
Try to cut back on disposable party goods – including New Year’s hats, horns, noisemakers, poppers and confetti. Instead, make your own!
Hats
You can make your own hats and headpieces with simple craft materials. I’m not so inspired, so I think my family will go hatless this year, but check out Domestic in the City for some amazing ideas.
Horns
Cooking With My Kid featured a great alternative to party horns … edible ones that you can make and decorate. All you need is ice cream sugar cones, a bag of chocolate chips, and multi-colored non-pareil sprinkles.
Noisemakers
Have any empty plastic water bottles that are just waiting to be recycled? Fill a bottle with dried beans and screw the lid on. Then, tear up pieces of used tissue paper or wrapping paper. Squirt glue over the outside of the water bottle, and apply the colorful, recycled pieces of tissue paper or wrapping paper. Voila! An easy peasy noisemaker.
Confetti
Still have plenty of used wrapping paper from Christmas? Simply cut it up into pieces of confetti. If you’re already disposed of your wrappings and trappings, then raid your scrap paper pile. Or, you can make your own glitter with salt and food coloring.
Hey – if you toss your homemade glitter outside at midnight, the salt will even melt any ice on the ground. Talk about repurposing glitter!
How do you green your New Year’s celebrations?
Disclosure: Purchasing items from links in this post will result in a commission for Accidentally Green. Thank you!
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Terry Macri says
Cute idea with the glitter. Had to laugh about it melting snow.
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