Sustainable development blog : ecology and humanitarian aid

Picnics should be about memories...not trash.

Eco-friendly picnics can lessen the load on today's landfills. There is no need to leave your trash behind. Here are four tips to make your next picnic easier on the environment.

1. Cloth napkins are nicer than paper and they do not tear. To buy a set of cloth napkins is not very expensive, or you can use other things that you may already have around the house as napkins. Any kind of soft cloth will work. You might also consider bringing your napkins in a cloth bag. It will make it easier to take them home when you are done.

2. Consider alternatives to paper towels. You may wish to buy extra dish towels or cloth to use instead, or use your old ones from the house for cleaning and wiping up. When it’s time to buy a new set of dish towels try and figure out how much money you spend on paper towels in a year. If you take the time to sit down and figure it out, you will soon discover that paper towels are an expensive item to purchase. Things like dish towels will pay for themselves in a very short while.

3. Stop using disposal plates. They are a convenience, however disposable plates are filling up landfills at an alarming rate. Instead, buy inexpensive and lightweight reusable plates for picnics and family outings. It is a little more work, but everyone stands to benefit from your labor.

4. Disposable styrofoam and plastic cups are another source of landfill problems, mainly because they do not biodegrade and will be around for thousands of years. You can purchase lightweight plastic drinking ware that is reusable. These are easily stacked into one another, which makes them simple and convenient to bring on outings. If you just follow these few simple tips there will be a great deal less trash left behind when you have finished your picnic. Summary Cloth napkins are an excellent alternative to paper napkins. There are alternatives to paper towels, also. Invest in lightweight dinnerware to take on picnics. Reusable plastic glasses are better than disposable ones. They are lightweight and they stack within themselves. Remember these four eco-friendly tips on your next family outing.