Ten great tailgate party ideas that are green and save green

It's time for those great american tailgate parties. What can be more fun than watching a game with friends and partying curbside.  Like any get together, tailgates can amount to a heap of fun and heap of trash.  So, how can you minimize the waste and consumption?

Try some of these simple tricks.  Each one you do will make you greener! 

1. Pack reusable coolers because styrofoam never biodegrades!
2. Freeze 1/2 gallon or gallon milk, juice or water containers instead of buying ice.  1/2 gallon stays frozen for a day. The gallon more than two days!
3. Carry food in a reusable picnic basket or better yet an upcycled one! 
4. Serve drinks from kegs or large containers to save on bottles and cans. If you must use cans and bottles please recycle
5. To recycle cans and bottles bring portable trash and recycle bins.  You can buy them or make your own simple version from brown paper grocery bags (see our version below)
6. Buy large bags of snacks instead of handing out single size snack bags.
7. Forego paper napkins and tablecloths for reusable cloth ones...maybe in the colors of your team
8. Make it fun, create sport themed napkin rings -- perhaps one with each friends name. (A project for the kids?)
9. Supply reusable cups-one for each friend.  Why not put names on them or attach identifiers of some kind?
10. Make seats from milk crates that can also serve as a carryall and ottoman(see our version below)

So, as you see it's simple.  When you head out for that day of sports, friends, food and fun, remember these tips and surprise everyone with some green,  even if it isn't one of your teams colors!

Make your own portable recycle and trash bins from paper bags

Make your own seat or carry all from a milk crate and other materials

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