Make your 4th of July red, white and GREEN

The 4th of July is just around the corner and it’s a good time to think about America’s future as well as its history by making your Independence Day as green as possible. So whether you’re hosting a BBQ, heading down to your local park or just relaxing at home - here’s some tips for making your 4th of July red, white and green.

Pick up your trash

If you're celebrating with a sports game, picnic or camping trip, remember that leaving your trash will not only have an environmental and social impact but also a wildlife impact too. That's why it's important that if your waste can't be recycled, it needs to go into the nearest trash can. If there's not one around, try and make sure that you leave with everything that you came with so you can dispose of it properly at home.

Don't forget about your recyclables! Water bottles, soda cans and plastic bottles are all common materials that can be recycled. Encourage your guests to segregate their waste and provide separate bags or recycling bins for them to use. You may be surprised at how much recyclable waste could start to build up but you'll be satisfied knowing that these won’t end up in the landfill.

Be conscious of your food waste

If Independence Day isn’t an excuse for delicious food - we don't know when is. If you're hosting a BBQ or a gathering, try and be conscious of the amount of food you are preparing for your guests. Obviously we don't want anybody to go hungry so if you've got plenty of leftovers, perhaps allow your guests to take some away or use them for that week's dinners. Don't forget your organic waste can go in your compost bin!

Avoid disposable plates & cutlery

Soiled disposable plates and cutlery are difficult to recycle which often means we end up just tossing them in the trash can. If you're having guests over, try using reusable silverware as this is a much more eco-friendly choice - the hard part is finding someone to help with the dish-washing afterwards!

You could also try opting for compostable or biodegradable plates so you can easily throw these in your compost bin.

Watch someone else's fireworks

Leave the fireworks in the store - there will be plenty of public firework displays that you and your family can head on down to, just grab some lawn chairs and secure yourself a prime spot. By watching somebody else's fireworks, it means that you can prevent even more dangerous chemicals being exposed to the environment and you don't have to clean up afterwards – you'll save a few bucks too!

Happy 4th of July from everyone here at Glasdon!