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3 Steps To Cut Down On Party Trash

Trash day in my neighborhood makes me sad. Driving down the street, I see house after house with giant piles of senseless trash. Those homes that have obvious recyclables sitting by the curb make me especially unhappy. Not to mention those with toys and home goods that are still 100% usable (don’t worry, when I see those I rescue them!).

My family of four, including a baby in disposable diapers (yes, I know), produces only a single bag of trash each week. Often that bag isn’t even full, just stinky. That’s it. But we regularly overflow two bins of recyclables weekly. It can be done, without much effort I might add.

I was recently challenged by Glad to throw a party taking the One Bag Challenge – filling only one bag of trash from the party. I was psyched to take on the challenge to show that it can be done. Learn more about the One Bag Challenge and Glad’s commitment to bettering the environment here.

With summer upon us I invited the neighborhood gang to celebrate with some water fun in the back yard. To really showcase the success of the challenge, I invited everyone – 24 kids and 20 adults. Yep, I decided to take a One Bag Challenge for party of 44! Yes, that’s right I decided I could host a party with 44 guests and only produce a single bag of trash.

Want to cut down on your party trash? Follow these three simple steps:

Step 1 – Use sustainable and biodegradable partyware. Not only is it good for the planet, but it is totally chic too. Out of all my party prep, my dinner plates received the most compliments — go figure! I served my guests on bamboo plates from Bambu. If only I was a composter, all of my plates, cups, silverware and napkins could have gone into a compost pile… Someday.

Glad One Bag Challenge Step 1

Step 2 – Decorate your space with reusable decor. For my party I decorated with leis that served as party favors and reusable tiki torches. (Notice a theme here?) The decor was also budget friendly, I picked up the leis at Target $1 for two.

Glad One Bag Challenge Step 2

Step 3 – Make sure your recycle bin and trash bag are in plain sight. To encourage people to recycle, I placed my recycle bin right under the table. No it isn’t pretty, but it reminded people. (Although I still went fishing in the garbage after the party for stray recycleables.)

Glad One Bag Challenge Step 3

So, of course, the question remains… Did I meet the challenge? Of course I did! One bag with room to spare! If it wasn’t so stinky, I would have put it in my kitchen and kept adding to the bag. I could have crammed a lot more into my Glad bag, it was made for stuffing full. But alas my husband made a face when I suggested this possibility. Oh well, I guess this week we will be putting two bags by the curb. But neither one will be totally full!

Glad One Bag Challenge Success

Quick Giveaway – Ends June 25

How would you like a party pack filled with everything you need to host your own One Bag Challenge Party? You would? Fantastic! Glad wants to help by giving one lucky reader a party pack to get you started with the right tools. In the party pack you will find Glad trash bags (but just use one), the awesome bamboo partyware, a yummy scented soy candle and Green Works spray for easy clean up. Just add guests, a little decor and some food and ta-da instant summer fun! Good luck!

To enter – Please use the Rafflecopter form below to take advantage of entry opportunities.

MANDATORY ENTRY MUST BE LEFT AS COMMENT ON BLOG POST BELOW– then you can check off in Rafflecopter that you did it. Otherwise, all other entries will be invalid. *** PLEASE be sure to read instructions in Rafflecopter form as to what to comment about.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure – I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Glad and received a One Bag kit to facilitate my review, a kit to give away, and a promotional item to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Related

Giveaways, Green Living glad, glad one bag challenge, Green Living

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Janie says

    June 21, 2012 at 9:08 am

    I’ve been trying to cut down on waste by buying reusable containers for lunches. My husband just got some new glass containers for his lunch. I’m trying to cut down on plastic too.

    Reply
  2. Julie says

    June 22, 2012 at 12:20 pm

    we use reusuable sandwich bags etc. for lunches…we don’t buy bottled water
    thansk

    Reply
  3. Tabathia B says

    June 22, 2012 at 3:54 pm

    I have cut down on the number of plastic bottles that I buy

    Reply
  4. keely hostetter says

    June 22, 2012 at 9:26 pm

    We recycle a lot of our stuff and that leaves us with very little trash!

    Reply
  5. Stacey B says

    June 23, 2012 at 12:54 pm

    I cut down on trash and waste by recycling all paper, plastic and aluminum products

    Reply
  6. Rachel Robertson (Azrael) says

    June 23, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    I use real plates and utensils instead of paper or foam and I try to limit napkins and paper towel usage 🙂

    Reply
  7. Colleen Fuller says

    June 23, 2012 at 2:40 pm

    I buy refill tubs of formula instead of buying all of that plastic! Thank you! This is awesome! Mattandcolleen Fuller on FB

    Reply
  8. Kristin Allen says

    June 23, 2012 at 2:41 pm

    We sort everything, from glass and plastic to paper and cans. And we recycle most of it :).

    Reply
  9. Alicia Zirjacks says

    June 23, 2012 at 2:45 pm

    We recycle everything that we can

    Reply
  10. tammy dodson says

    June 23, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    we started recycling boxes

    Reply
  11. Ruby says

    June 23, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    I limit paper towel usage in the kitchen by reusing cloth towels. We recently started recycling.

    Reply
  12. Karen O says

    June 23, 2012 at 3:39 pm

    I donate clothing and items we no longer use to Goodwill instead of throwing them in the garbage.

    Reply
  13. Teresa Thompson says

    June 23, 2012 at 3:42 pm

    We use shopping bags instead of plastic, recycle cans, bottles and papers.
    marine.mom42@hotmail.com

    Reply
  14. DAMIAN JARREAU says

    June 23, 2012 at 4:03 pm

    We use washable plates and cups at parties

    Reply
  15. Sara Phillips says

    June 23, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    We do lots of recycling and using things that can be used over and over.

    Reply
  16. JoAnn F. says

    June 23, 2012 at 4:15 pm

    We recycle & use paper plates as little as possible
    jofo120 at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  17. sarah says

    June 23, 2012 at 4:32 pm

    We recycle everything we can and use washable dishes at home.

    Reply
  18. Paula Tavernie says

    June 23, 2012 at 4:37 pm

    We recycle daily!
    ptavernie at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  19. Carly says

    June 23, 2012 at 5:05 pm

    I cut down on trash by recycling.

    Reply
  20. Anne says

    June 23, 2012 at 5:09 pm

    I try to buy less stuff to cut down on trash.

    Reply
  21. Brandy Nelson says

    June 23, 2012 at 5:38 pm

    We reuse and repurpose as much as possible!

    Reply
  22. Erica C. says

    June 23, 2012 at 5:55 pm

    We compact items to make more fit in the trash, and we use a lot of items we can wash instead of just toss.

    Reply
  23. angie says

    June 23, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    Recycle and try to repurpose as many items as possible

    Reply
  24. Katie O says

    June 23, 2012 at 6:14 pm

    Try to reuse and recycle as much as we can!

    Reply
  25. jose benavides says

    June 23, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    I try to recycle as much as possible

    Reply
  26. Ann Fantom says

    June 23, 2012 at 8:10 pm

    We recycle all we can and compost food waste.

    Reply
  27. Renee G says

    June 23, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    We recycle our tin, aluminum and glass.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

    Reply
  28. Carolyn Daley says

    June 23, 2012 at 8:32 pm

    Recycle, use less paper products, and donate items that others could use

    Reply
  29. aimee sanborn says

    June 23, 2012 at 8:44 pm

    I cut down on waste and trash everyday. When I go for my walks in the morning with my son I pick up other people’s recycling that they throw out of their cars. I also compost all of my fruits and vegetables.

    Reply
  30. Miz Vickik says

    June 23, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    By not buying things that have excessive packaging or that I won’t use for longer than 10 minutes at a time.

    Reply
  31. Beth Larrabee says

    June 23, 2012 at 9:37 pm

    We use reusable water bottles and never use paper plates

    Reply
  32. Christine says

    June 23, 2012 at 9:40 pm

    we recycle

    Reply
  33. Rochelle says

    June 23, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    I make sure to recycle every water bottle, magazines and newspapers I use. Thanks!

    Reply
  34. Sarah says

    June 23, 2012 at 10:52 pm

    We recycle and try to reuse everything we can 🙂

    world_as_one(at)live(dot)com

    Reply
  35. Kayla says

    June 23, 2012 at 11:07 pm

    We don’t use paper plates or cups.

    Reply
  36. Kathy S says

    June 23, 2012 at 11:24 pm

    We reduce, reuse, recycle whenever possible.

    Reply
  37. K Anne says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:16 am

    I try to recyle almost everything we use.

    Reply
  38. chadro says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:25 am

    We re-use things if possible and we do recycle

    Reply
  39. Sonya says

    June 24, 2012 at 2:06 am

    We recycle a ton and I try not to buy individually packages items.

    Reply
  40. dani marie says

    June 24, 2012 at 3:43 am

    i purchased a bunch of reusable plates and we always wash the disposable plastic forks and stuff.

    Reply
  41. jen gersch says

    June 24, 2012 at 4:55 am

    i compost

    Reply
  42. debbie says

    June 24, 2012 at 6:20 am

    We recycle everything we can.

    Reply
  43. michelle kaplan says

    June 24, 2012 at 6:59 am

    have recycled for quite awhile..and try to be “green”

    Reply
  44. April V. says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:48 am

    We always use reusable dishes and silverware.

    Reply
  45. karon says

    June 24, 2012 at 8:13 am

    we recycle and keep the bins right by us when we have parties

    Reply
  46. Diana Stanhope says

    June 24, 2012 at 8:58 am

    We have stopped using the little plastic grocery bags all together and have been collecting totes to do our shopping with. We also by as much natural food as possible which means less packaging waste. We don’y use paper towels or napkins we have switch to cloth and reusable items. We try to re purpose anything that might be useful in any way and it we can’t we take it to be recycled.

    Reply
  47. Amy DeLong says

    June 24, 2012 at 9:10 am

    recycle whatever we can
    ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com

    Reply
  48. Linda Lansford says

    June 24, 2012 at 9:47 am

    I recycle about half of what is discarded

    Reply
  49. Leslie Luke Stanziani says

    June 24, 2012 at 10:12 am

    We use real plates and silverware plus try to compost as much as possible.

    Reply
  50. Sherry Conrad says

    June 24, 2012 at 11:43 am

    We try to buy with as little packaging as possible & use reusable when we can.

    Reply
  51. Melanie Montgomery says

    June 24, 2012 at 11:47 am

    We only use paper plates when we have to.

    Reply
  52. SHAYNA says

    June 24, 2012 at 11:55 am

    WE USE REGULAR PLATES AND CUPS INSTEAD OF PAPER AND PLASTIC 🙂

    shebebes@yahoo.com

    Reply
  53. Chrystal J. says

    June 24, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    I use regular plates and glasses instead of paper cups and plates.

    Reply
  54. Charles Burbridge says

    June 24, 2012 at 12:13 pm

    The kids don’t print out papers just for editing purposes, only for the final turn in copies.

    Reply
  55. Ellen says

    June 24, 2012 at 12:51 pm

    I cut down on waste by using reusable products when I can, then recycling or composting almost everything else. I only keep a very small trash can, and only have to empty it around every 2 weeks.

    Reply
  56. amy deeter says

    June 24, 2012 at 12:58 pm

    we use plastic plates and cups and silverware

    Reply
  57. Jessica T. says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:32 pm

    I recycle aluminum cans and rarely use paper plates or cups.

    Reply
  58. Maryann says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:41 pm

    We try to recycle everything we can, composte things and repurpose items.

    Reply
  59. paige chandler says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:53 pm

    W

    Reply
  60. paige chandler says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    We recycle and use reusable products.

    Reply
  61. Amy Woods-Smith says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:55 pm

    I try to buy products with minimal packaging.

    Reply
  62. Jammie says

    June 24, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    We cut down by reusing! Glass containers are used for storage in the shed.

    Reply
  63. Lisa Weidknecht says

    June 24, 2012 at 2:05 pm

    We are members of Freecycle and try to pass on the shipping boxes that bring my review items.

    Reply
  64. kathy pease says

    June 24, 2012 at 2:35 pm

    we recycle our trash

    Reply
  65. carol mclemore says

    June 24, 2012 at 2:39 pm

    We recycle alot:)

    Reply
  66. Jennifer McKay says

    June 24, 2012 at 2:54 pm

    We use reusable containers as much as possible and compost our compostables for the garden

    Reply
  67. kristen m says

    June 24, 2012 at 3:15 pm

    We cut down on waste by only using disposable products when we have a lot of guests. We are also careful the recycle everything possible.

    Reply
  68. Derek T. says

    June 24, 2012 at 3:44 pm

    My family cuts down by recycling

    Reply
  69. Whitney says

    June 24, 2012 at 3:50 pm

    We use kitchen towels instead of paper towels!

    Reply
  70. christie kammerer says

    June 24, 2012 at 4:14 pm

    we recycle, make our own laundry soap.

    Reply
  71. kelly letterman says

    June 24, 2012 at 4:25 pm

    recycle as much as we can. dont use paper plates or cups

    Reply
  72. Susan F says

    June 24, 2012 at 4:46 pm

    I try to buy only what I will use.

    Reply
  73. Ann Council says

    June 24, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    I use dish towels instead of paper towels.

    Reply
  74. carol lewis says

    June 24, 2012 at 6:34 pm

    Food we give to the chickens and goats and waste by using stainless steel water bottles and towels instead of paper towels.

    Reply
  75. Gaines Simmons says

    June 24, 2012 at 6:44 pm

    Hello, how are you? Thank you for this opportunity. We reduce waste by composting our food scraps.

    Reply
  76. Liz Terek says

    June 24, 2012 at 6:45 pm

    We take excess, unuseable food items to the woods for the critters to eat. It cuts down on trash.

    Reply
  77. Laurie Emerson says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:32 pm

    I use as many reusable products as possible and recycle almost everything.
    lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com

    Reply
  78. Tiffany Clarke says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    I don’t use paper products I yard sale hop for great finds!

    Reply
  79. Carolyn G says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:51 pm

    I compost

    Reply
  80. Breanne says

    June 24, 2012 at 7:52 pm

    Recycle

    Reply
  81. Nicole C. says

    June 24, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    We never use paper plates and cups.

    Reply
  82. trisha mckee says

    June 24, 2012 at 8:47 pm

    I recycle and we have stopped using paper plates and reuse water bottles.

    Reply
  83. Will M says

    June 24, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    We recycle as much as we can!

    Reply
  84. Will M says

    June 24, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    We recycle and repurpose as much as possible

    Reply
  85. brian e. says

    June 24, 2012 at 9:30 pm

    Thanks for the giveaway…we use cloth napkins, and cotton cleaning towels instead of paper towels.

    Reply
  86. shirley zolenski says

    June 24, 2012 at 9:48 pm

    I try to use all reusable stuff

    Reply
  87. Sand says

    June 24, 2012 at 10:07 pm

    We recycle everything our city accepts.

    Reply
  88. Vanessa says

    June 24, 2012 at 10:28 pm

    We recycle as much as possible.

    Reply
  89. Lisa says

    June 24, 2012 at 10:34 pm

    We try to reuse or recycle whatever possible

    Reply
  90. Patrice says

    June 24, 2012 at 10:48 pm

    We recycle everything possible!

    Reply
  91. Norma Hammock says

    December 26, 2012 at 10:06 pm

    While browsing your Green Living section this article re: cutting down on party trash caught my eye. I have never tried to have a party and be left with only one bag of trash but I think I can do it! I’m having a party this weekend when my daughter, a nurse who had to work Christmas Day and the day after, brings her family for a belated Christmas celebration. I’m going to try the One Bag Challenge — will let you know how well I succeed.

    Reply
    • jen says

      December 26, 2012 at 10:19 pm

      I truly believe it can be done! Good luck!

      Reply

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Hi, I’m Jen

I'm an Orlando, FL mom, a blogger and a social media junkie. I love anything crafty, Disney, Gator football, chocolate, green living, flip-flops and family movie nights.
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