NO MORE PLASTIC PICNICS

In a perfect world, we would have zero waste picnics and July 4th barbecues. In a perfect world, we would all bring our own reusable plates and bowls and utensils. And while I advocate bringing reusable napkins no matter what and think there are times when we can achieve no waste gatherings (parties hosted at home for example--even if you don't have enough plates to go around, you can have guests BYOD-ishware), it's a tall order when you're at a park or the beach or hosting fifty people in your backyard.

So, for those times, there are better choices than plasticware.

One such choice I just heard about is bagasse ware. Bagasse is the stuff left over after sugarcane is crushed to make sugar. Those fibers can be made into plates and bowls and cutlery like those at My Green Table, manufactured from a renewable, otherwise industrial waste product and, should one go the extra mile, can actually be composted (the step that is often missed in "compostable" dinnerware) so no trash is trucked to the landfill. 

I imagine in some parts you can simply put the discarded dishes in your green/yard waste trash collection bin, put them in a municipal composting facility, or, if you've got one, in your own backyard pile or worm tray or what have you.

As for cups, I'd request guests bring their own, but they exist made from bagasse as well.

Then continue being creative about the journey to no waste good times.