A milestone as major as America’s 250th anniversary deserves an unforgettable, multi-day celebration—but it shouldn’t come at the expense of our planet. Let’s honor our future by keeping this holiday weekend green. Here are 10 ways to celebrate sustainably for the next 250 years and beyond:
Watch out for birds.
If you’re planning a trip to the beach or a park, watch out for the birds. Colonial birds, like roseate spoonbills and pelicans, nest on islands in lakes or ponds where alligators keep predators away. Many beach-nesting species are nesting directly on sand now and they’re practically invisible unless you look carefully. And if you don’t have plans with friends or family, consider volunteering to be a bird steward with Audubon. They’ll be out in force over the long holiday weekend, but they can always use extra assistance.
Fireworks
With the extended drought across Tampa Bay, officials are warning that fireworks will be even more dangerous this year. If you must use fireworks, be sure to light them in an area cleared of all debris, and aim them away from homes and wooded areas. If you aim them over a lake or pond, be sure to check for nesting birds first. Fireworks create pollution and even environmentally friendly fireworks frighten wildlife, including birds that are nesting during summer months. Be aware of the burn bans in place and learn what restrictions they impose. And while residents are discouraged from using fireworks, local governments across the region have plans to make up for it. Learn more here.
Skip the disposable plastic.
If possible, avoid anything disposable. If reusable dishes aren’t practical, consider plates made from sugarcane fibers and recyclable aluminum cups. (Important note: Even if plastic serving pieces like plates or cups have the recycle symbol, they aren’t recyclable in Tampa Bay counties.)
Think big.
Large containers of water and juice consume much less plastic than individual servings in plastic or plastic-coated juice boxes.
Mark it up.
With one large serving container, you’ll need individual cups. Bring a marker to put names on individual cups so each person just uses one for the entire day.
Recycle what you can.
Depending on where your party is being held, you may need to plan in advance to recycle things like water bottles, juice boxes and drink cans. Bring an extra trash bag to collect them because most parks won’t have dedicated recycling bins.
Check out your charcoal.
Not all fires are created equally. Traditional briquettes are made with petroleum products that cause pollution and emit greenhouse gases. Look for charcoal that doesn’t contain coal, oil or other petroleum products, or grill with propane.
Nix toxic sunscreens.
The ingredients in about 70% of sunscreens sold in the U.S. are toxic to corals, fish and shellfish, even in incredibly low concentrations. Look for sunscreens made with non-nano zinc or titanium dioxide.
Pick it up.
We know Bay Soundings readers would never consider littering, but this year, plan on picking up behind other people. We’ve all seen the photos of trashed beaches and parks after holiday weekends – do more than your part and take other people’s trash home instead of leaving it to harm wildlife. Consider joining one of the many July 5th beach clean-ups in your area! Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful has two events in Tampa, or check out events in your city, like these in Reddington Beach, Madeira Beach, and Holmes Beach.
Make it a game.
If your group includes kids, consider setting up a scavenger hunt with prizes for kids. Google “trash scavenger hunt” for lots of cool ideas for different ages.