CBC has put together a fun compilation of eco-friendly tips for your next party, which may be as soon as this upcoming holiday weekend. As they say, stuffing plastic plates, discarded invitations and leftover food into big garbage bags at the end of the night is always the most guilt-inducing part of entertaining. But it’s also unnecessary - hosting a party need not be wasteful if you plan ahead and put in a little extra effort.

1. Go green with your theme.

2. You’re invited!: Instead of traditional mailed invitations, consider less formal alternatives. Contact your friends over the phone or through e-mail. If you prefer sending out invitations, use cardstock made of recycled paper, or track down biodegradable seed paper.

3. Arrange carpooling: As the organizer of the party, you’ll know best who is coming from where. Where possible, arrange carpools for people who live in the same neighbourhood as a small contribution to curbing air pollution.

4. Buy local or grow your own: Choose your menu carefully, selecting organic, locally grown food where possible.

5. Suck up your soda with a licorice stick: Use traditional plates and flatware instead of disposable plastic plates. For a fun twist, Seo recommended using pieces of licorice instead of straws. Instead of using plastic corncob holders, cut sturdy twigs from your tree and use a pencil sharpener to make the ends pointy.

6. Adjust your thermostat: Lots of party-goers means you don’t need the heat turned up so high (for a winter party, that is).

7. Switch your lights: When decorating for Christmas or for a backyard summer garden party, trade your old incandescent lights for energy-efficient LED decorative lights.

8. A bright idea: For the adventuresome chef, try preparing part of your meal using a solar oven.

9. Gifts and party favours: For a child’s birthday party, fill a brown paper bag with small candies, riddles, and joke books. For adults, bring a potted plant or a consumable gift that you know the recipient will actually use, such as babysitting gift certificates, a box of homemade cookies, or passes for a movie. Besides being practical, consumable gifts reduce clutter.

10. Compost the leftovers.