Festivals, weddings, birthday parties... These are the things that haunt an environmentally-minded person's sleep.
Why would these "fun" things do that? Because of the horrific amounts of waste they generate. In a throw-away society, these temporary happenings are oftentimes the greatest wasters of them all.
The good news is that things are taking baby steps to get better, and here are just a few of them to look for in the coming months.
Thanks to rider requirements of headliner Willie Nelson, the Downtown Hoedown held at Hart Plaza from May 15 to 17 will have its beverage containers recycled by
Recy-Clean, and
Michigan Green Safe products will be used.
The same deal is in place whenever Whole Foods sponsors an event -- such as this weekend's
Veg Fest and the June 9
Motor City Pride Festival, both held in Ferndale.
Recycle Detroit handles recycling at
Dally in the Alley and
Movement. This year's
CityFest will have a bike corral and recycling as well.
If you are planning something a bit more small-scale, say a fundraiser or wedding, a local company,
Eco-Posh, can help. Can't afford an event planner? Their blog offers lots of tips on things like cakes, invitations, even confetti, that are more sustainable than the typical options.
It's good to keep in mind your environmental resolutions when hosting an event -- even though it becomes much harder. Paper plates and plastic cutlery became popular for a reason!
Writer: Kelli B. Kavanaugh
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