Green parties aren't just for politicians

As any host knows, guests leave more than well wishes and fond memories behind. It can take a crew armed with heavy duty garbage bags and disinfectants to clean up after everyone goes homes, and the bigger the celebration, the bigger the mess. An event like the World Cup, a cause for large-scale construction projects and long-distance travel, can easily generate hundreds of tons of waste. Celebrations don't have to harm the environment, however, and a little planning and creativity can make your own party green.  

According to the Korea Times, Seoul city residents cheering during the World Cup left 135 tons of litter in the streets in a span of about six hours on June 23. Much of the litter consisted of plastic balloons, styrofoam placards and advertising goods. While clouds of free-floating balloons look nice, they typically aren't biodegradable, can cause electrical outages when snagged on power lines and can kill marine life when animals mistake them for jellyfish. In contrast, confetti and lanterns made from recycled paper are equally eye-catching and less damaging to the environment. Making them can also be a fun activity for children.

In South Africa, the ever-present vuvuzelas are making an impact too, and not only because of their sound. Millions of the horns have been mass-produced to meet spectator demands, requiring petroleum for the plastic they are often made from and for the fuel used to ship them, and a majority of the horns will more than likely end up in landfills once the World Cup is over. If you can afford it, cheer your favorite team on with a hand-crafted work of art, a vuvuzela made of kelp.

Fireworks, while beautiful, contain heavy metal residue and toxins like sulfur dioxide, which can spread through the air and wherever the ashes land. The Environmental Protection Agency recognizes fireworks as a source of the chemical perchlorate, which disrupts the endocrine system and causes both physical and mental impairment. Some organizations are opting for safer light shows. For example, Disney now uses compressed air instead of gunpower in its pyrotechnic dispays. An even better option may be laser light shows. They require energy to produce, but are far less polluting than fireworks, just as visually stunning and can be used over and over again.

The Mother Nature Network offers five ways to green a tailgate party, like choosing organic fare and using compostable cutlery. Few gatherings are complete without beer, wine or other spirits and you might consider brewing your own to save money, minimize your eco-footprint and make a hit with the neighbors. Even the invitations you send out, if not done electronically, can be made more earth-friendly with plantable paper. The paper, embedded with seeds, will grow into flowers or vegetables once given soil, water and sunlight. You can buy the paper from a company like Botanical Paperworks, or you can make your own out of junk mail.

This same technique can be used to make a pinata out of recycled paper, perhaps filled with organic candy or handmade party favors. You don't need to splurge to find party favors for your guests. Items in your own home can be repurposed, by melting crayons down to make candles for example, or you might browse local thrift stores for inexpensive and unique gifts. Small potted herbs can also make vibrant and great-tasting gifts.

Simple, conscious choices can keep celebrations from becoming spectacles of mass-consumption and waste without giving up the things that make a party worth having. Whether it's Mardi Gras or a kid's birthday bash, it's the company you keep and the memories you'll share that matter, not the banners and balloons.