Ethical tips for a garden party this weekend?

[Caitni]

We're expecting about 25-30 people for a party in our garden this Sunday (fingers crossed the weather holds!).

I'm not keen on buying lots of plastic disposable cutlery/plates/cups when we put so much effort into sourcing local/organic/ethical food & drink. But we need extra cos even if we use all our cutlery and crockery (including scraping together all the picnic and camping bits and bobs we have) we still won't have enough. I'm mainly thinking about glasses, as that's what we have least of...

Does anyone know where to get recycled plates etc? Or does anyone have any tips on how to get round this?

TIA

You can hire glassware and crockery or a quick visit to ikea to stock up on their cheap 365+ range.

Fingers crossed for the weather in your part of the UK.

Paper cups and plates and then put them in the recycling bin?

Glass hire - or again buy some v cheap stuff from IKEA, wilkos etc

Could you pool together (non-precious) stuff from friends and return the favour when they have a party?

Its possible to get recycled cups/plates/forks etc, I think both in paper and plastic (or a plastic like substance)...I can find out if you like?
However its probably much cheaper to get very very basic things from a £1 shop and recycle or pass to charity shop afterwards.

Wow! Thanks for all the responses!

I've always thought you can't chuck the used paper cups/plates into the recycling because of food contamination (that's our work policy and we have a very green waste disposal policy).

The glass hire is a good idea (it's what we did for our wedding so not sure why I didn't think of it ).

MrsT that's a really good idea - I may think about it for future parties! Not too sure I could herd the cats organise my friends in time for this one...

MatNan & PrimulaVeris I love an excuse to go to Ikea!

KnickKnack I'm going to check to see if I can get recycled disposables in places like John Lewis (I live in North London but work in central London). I like the charity shop idea. In fact I may check our local charity shops for old crockery too.

Definitely check local charity shops - they can always go back there afterwards.

This is why belonging to a church is handy

Have a word with the vicar, borrow the keys, and use all their glasses and crockery etc. for parties

Do you belong to a church?

I peeked through the windows of local charity shops on the way home from the tube last night so reckon that's the way forward (you're thinking what I'm thinking BlueChampagne about them going back there after) as I won't be able to get to a John Lewis before Sunday.

Morningpaper I don't belong to a church but can see how that would be a perk .