This weekend, the old rivalry of New England versus New York will play out on the arena of the 2012 Super Bowl. As most American customs, Super Bowl Sunday is a day to gather with loved ones, eat a bunch of unhealthy food, and drink your little heart out! And just as most parties, it can be extremely wasteful. But it doesn’t have to be. There are a number of ways to throw a Superbowl Party and keep it be a low-waste, environmentally friendly affair. We have put together a list of tips to help you host a green Super Bowl fiesta! Now, go Pats (sorry we are a bit Boston biased).

Tip 1-Use E-vites or Mass Texts: Instead of sending out or handing out printed invites, opt for inviting your guests via email or text. Also, Facebook is an easy way to communicate with your friends and allows guests to talk amoung themselves.

Tip 2-Use Re-usable or Compostable Dishes: One easy way to cut down on your waste is using re-usable dishes. It might make a big mess and will require extra work, but you will be happy not to throw out a huge trash bag at the end of the night. If you just can’t bare the thought of doing all those dishes after the big game, you can use compostable dishes as an alternative. Compostable dishes come in utensils, cups, and plates.

Tip 3-Serve Organic & Local Food: Instead of opting for the usual snacks, which come in packaging such as chips and dips, make everything from your local market. If you purchase goods from the farmer’s market, you won’t have any packaging to throw out. You could also have the food catered from a local, organic restaurant. If you bring you own dishes or re-use the ones they supply, you will also reduce your waste.

Tip 4-Get a Keg: Normally Superbowl parties revolve around food which creates tons of waste in beer bottles and cans. Although, these can be recycled, you can reduce waste, by purchasing a keg. Not only will you be supporting local business, but possibly organic if any breweries exist near you. You can also be sure you won’t run out of beer. A sure fire way to reduce your waste and keep your guests happy!

Tip 5-Clean Responsibly:  When you are cleaning up the mess and washing those dishes, be sure to use environmentally friendly products such as vinegar or eco brands like Method or 7th Generation. Using these options will reduce your impact on the environment as they do not contain toxins and are biodegradable.