Kansas Gr een Gui de Your Bi -Week l y Gui de t o Sust ai nabl e Li vi ng

Gr een Your Summer BBQ J une 20, 2014

Memorial Day, the Fourth of J uly and Labor Day are the most popular days to cook outside on the grill, says
the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. Americans grill with a passion, the group notes, with eight out of
10 U.S. households owning a grill or smoker and half use it more than four times a month. On the Fourth of
J uly alone, at least 60 million people grill up a holiday meal, according to a 2003 study by the U.S. Department
of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Here are some tips on how to green your backyard BBQ:
You can help make a difference by serving meals on reusable plates and
utensils. Washable linens and napkins can also be used rather than plastic
or paper products.
If you're hosting a large gathering and don't have enough plates and
silverware, opt for compostable dishes and utensils made from renewable
resources such as corn, potato starch and some recycled materials. These
items are sold in stores including Whole Foods, Wal-Mart and Target.
Plan a menu based on sustainable food choices. That means buying local
or organic foods where possible, everything from produce to meats, fish
and desserts. This supports the regional economy in the process.
Fill up pitchers of water, homemade lemonade and iced tea instead of buying huge quantities of
personal-sized beverage containers. Provide markers at the drink counter so people can write their
names on their cups preventing the use of more than one.
Encourage recycling by putting out easily identifiable bins you'll find fewer bottles and cans smeared
with ketchup in the garbage.
Use gas, propane or electric grills, which aren't perfect but burn more efficiently and cleaner than
charcoal or wood. If you have a charcoal grill, favor burning natural lumps over briquettes and burn only
the amount you need.

Disseminati on of Kansas Green Gui de by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, a governmental agency, i s solel y
for the non-commercial purpose of i nforming and educati ng the publ ic. References to speci fic compani es do not constitute a
KDHE endorsement. If you have any questions, please contact the Bureau of Waste Management, at
info@kansasgreenteams.org. Source: CNN & The Nature Conservancy