Sustainable Life: How to plan a zero waste kids party

Posted on 31 January, 2019

Kids love birthday parties. Especially their very own.

There’s joy in the planning – ‘I want a Star Wars cake, fairy bread and lots of presents!’. There’s joy on the day – bouncing around the living room, waiting for party time, the joyful shrieking as party guests arrive. So much excitement. So many friends. So much stuff and unfortunately, so much waste.

Birthday party waste starts with the take-home trinkets and gift packaging. It’s in the disposable cups, plates, forks and take away food containers. The balloons, decorations and party games all contribute to the mountain of waste created by most kids’ parties.

But our best memories from kids parties aren’t about stuff. They’re about playing with our friends. The feeling of being special, just for a day. That mountain of stuff in the bin simply fades away.

Here’s some inspiration for birthday party fun, without the waste.

Decorations

Think home-made, with recycled materials. Make your own bunting, from crepe paper and string and make your own custom birthday sign using paper and paints (also biodegradable!).

Here’s the hard message on decorations: we need to break up with party balloons. Yes, even latex party balloons. Unfortunately, they’re deadly for wildlife who eat them, mistaking them for food.

Balloons left outside will get washed through our waterways, into the ocean. Helium balloons that are released into the atmosphere explode, creating a shape like a jellyfish. Consider blowing bubbles and having colourful crepe paper streamers, as an alternative to celebrating with balloons.

Food

Avoid food waste by making the party finger-food only, on platters that you’ve brought from home. Super-keen? Use cloth serviettes, and put them into the wash after the party.

Plastic cups might just be better than paper cups, as the ‘paper’ cup is lined with plastic.

Find yourself a compost, your own or a neighbour’s, for left-over food, dirty paper plates, used serviettes and skewers. Looking for a local compost? Try the Share Waste app for more than 50 options across Canberra.

Gifts

Here are three approaches to zero waste gifts at a kids party.

• Wishing well: Invite your child to think of something really big that they’d like for their birthday. How about we ask all of your friends to contribute to this, rather than getting smaller, individual presents? The party invitation might read: No presents necessary. There will be a ‘Mountain Bike’ wishing well, should your family be keen to contribute.
• Community twist to the wishing well: Appeal to your child’s inner sense of altruism. How about we ask your friends to contribute towards a gift for you, and a charity donation? The party invitation might read: No presents necessary. There will be a wishing well for those who wish to gift. ‘Marcia’ will split money from the wishing well equally between her favourite charity and a single, large gift.
• No gifts: For many children and parents, this will be a bridge too far, however, it gives real emphasis on the party experience, rather than the ‘stuff’. An invitation might read: Please, absolutely, positively, under no circumstances should you bring a gift. We really mean it. ‘George’ just wants to play with his friends. We won’t be providing take-home bags, so we’ll be even. 

Take home bag/Party bags

Putting together an affordable take-home bag that’s fun for kids and zero waste takes just a few small changes.

Of course, these take-home gifts would all be supplied in paper bags that can be hand decorated by the party host – an extra craft activity.

Here are some ideas:

• A small plant. Succulents are easy care. A small flower pot is beautiful. Herbs might suit if you’ve just run a Master-Chef themed party.
• Mini gardening kit. A packet of seeds and some gardening ‘stuff’ make for good conversation over the coming months as the seeds grow. Micro-herbs provide a quick harvest.
• Home baked treats. Gingerbread, chocolate-chipped cookies and caramel fudge will all be popular eating on the way home.
• Small book. If you’ve got children at school, you’ll be familiar with the Scholastic Book Club’s $1 book offer. Why not get 20 as take-home gifts from your child’s next party?