Host a Sustainable Super Bowl Party

If you plan on hosting a Super Bowl party this year, consider scoring extra points with your guests by adding environmentally friendly practices to your event. From kickoff to cleanup, below are some simple tips for hosting a sustainable Super Bowl party.

Ask for RSVPs: Knowing how many people plan to join you can help determine how much food to prepare and reduces the chances of needing to deal with leftovers. 

Buy local and organic: When possible, purchase food and drinks from local markets and restaurants. This cuts down on carbon released through transportation and reduces the need for transportation-related packaging. Buying organic avoids the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Consider visiting the Downtown Hayward Farmers Market that happens every Saturday for sourcing some of your food.

Vegetarian dishes: Although it may sound un-American not to eat burgers and hot dogs for the Super Bowl, avoiding meat is a good way to green your party. Life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions studies of food production have shown that red meat and dairy production generate more than double the greenhouse gas emissions of vegetarian food production.  Try out at least some vegetarian dishes or dips. 

Cook at home: Cook or have a potluck.  The packaging that comes with take-out food generates a lot of waste. Consider hosting a pre-cooking party and invite friends over to help with the food preparation. 

Reusable Dishware: Serve food on reusable plates and provide metal utensils and reusable cups. Most disposable dishware is not recyclable, and even the items labeled "compostable" are rarely accepted by local composting facilities.

Recycle: When packaging can't be avoided, purchase recyclable packaging (like aluminum cans and glass bottles). Then make recycling easy for your guests by clearly labeling recycling bins and making them easy to locate.

Don't Fumble the FOG: Don't pour fats, oils, or grease (FOG) down the drain. This will protect your pipes, prevent sewer backups, and help you avoid expensive plumbing issues at home. Wipe grease from containers with paper or paper towels and put it in your organics bin, otherwise store FOG in a plastic bottle with a resealable lid and drop it off at a Household Hazardous Waste Facility.