- That red solo cup you're using at the barbecue
will take 450 to 1,000 years to break down.
It's barbecue season.
That means it's time for fun in the sun,
hamburgers, grills, disposable plates, and fireworks.
Now, I've heard from some of you who are trying
to be a little bit more sustainable this summer.
So here are five tips for a greener barbecue.
Tip number one, if you can't reuse it, refuse it.
It's common to have disposable cutlery, plates,
and cups for barbecues,
but they cost a lot of waste at the end of the day.
If you can, switch out styrofoam and plastic materials
for items that are compostable
or better yet, reusable.
The material in styrofoam cups is nearly impossible
to recycle and it doesn't decompose.
We're not even really sure how long it takes
for that plastic foam to break down.
Estimates range from 500 years to forever.
A UN report from 2018 simply says
they take thousands of years to decompose.
The same applies to other supplies used at barbecues,
things like tablecloths,
decorations, coolers, et cetera.
If you can find items that are reusable
and not one and done,
then the more eco-friendly your cookout will be.
Tip number two, avoid charcoal grills.
There's no barbecue without a grill, but don't worry.
I'm not here to tell you to get rid of this essential.
If you have the choice,
skip using charcoal grills.
They're a huge contributor
to air pollution during the summertime.
Instead use propane grills,
which produce half the amount
of carbon dioxide charcoal does.
Grilling with charcoal emits up
to 11 pounds of carbon dioxide
into the environment per cooking session.
That's enough CO2 to charge approximately 607 cell phones
or drive 12.5 miles in a small car.
Grilling with propane, on the other hand,
emits just 5.6 pounds.
By ditching charcoal,
you would not only be reducing your carbon footprint,
but you would also be eating healthier.
Studies show that meats cooked over charcoal
can contain more carcinogens.
Tip three, think about your food.
Do you know where your food comes from?
Most of us don't, but a lot of it is imported.
Meaning the food we consume has a big carbon footprint
from being harvested, processed, and transported.
If you want to avoid that, then you should shop local.
You'll not only be reducing your carbon footprint,
but you'll also be getting fresher produce
and supporting local farmers.
You can also cut your grilling carbon footprint
with the meat you choose to cook.
Instead of your typical red meat,
try a sustainably-raised meat,
which is produced without destroying the environment.
You'd also be supporting responsible farmers
who use eco-friendly agricultural practices.
Or lower your carbon footprint even more
by reducing the amount of red meat available at your cookout
and offer plant-forward burger options instead.
Tip number four, get a keg.
For those of us who are of drinking age,
having an ice-cold beer in the summer is super refreshing,
but why not buy a keg instead of multiple cases of beer?
You'll not only reduce waste,
but also be able to keep the fun going on longer.
Obviously, a keg would only be a better option
if you provide your guests with reusable cups.
But buying a keg would also encourage you
to go local with your beer drinking
and support local craft breweries
that might have cleaner and greener brews.
Tip number five,
stop the backyard fireworks.
This might be the hardest to avoid,
knowing the thrill people get
from setting off their own fireworks.
Not saying this because it's a safety hazard,
although you should 100% be safe around them,
but because fireworks contribute
to a great amount of harmful chemicals
and smoke in the atmosphere.
Oh, and they also contaminate our rivers
and lakes because, as Newton said,
everything that goes up must come down.
Fireworks tend to fall back down into bodies of water,
polluting them with propellants and colorant residue.
So before you spend money on fireworks,
consider doing some research
and buying biodegradable fireworks,
or just plan on watching them at a community display.
They're big explosions in the sky,
so you'll be able to see them from most places.
So there you have it.
If you want to be a bit more green this summer
with your cookouts, there's many ways you can do it.
In some cases, you'll not only be more green,
but you'll also be healthier and even save money.
At the end of the day though,
just remember that it's summer
and we all deserve to kick back and relax.
We've earned it.
(upbeat music)