Your Barbecue

Most summertime barbecues promise good friends, tasty food, fresh air…and enough paper plates, plastic utensils, and beer cups to turn your backyard into a landfill. For a backyard bash that won't be a blow to the environment, consider the greenest options for your grill, your gear, your menu, and your table-scape. After all, an eco-friendly barbecue isn't only better for the earth — it's healthier for you and your guests, too.

Choosing Your Grill:

When it comes to grilling, there's much debate about which fuel is greener — gas or charcoal. Propane gas is a fossil fuel — a non-renewable resource — but it burns cleaner than charcoal. Although charcoal is a renewable fuel made from wood, it emits more pollutants than propane when it is burnt. Neither gas nor charcoal is a perfect solution, but if you're a barbecue connoisseur who prefers the smoky taste of charcoal-grilled food, try using Green Hearts Natural Charcoal Briquettes. Soler, the company that produces them, ensures that new trees are planted as the old trees are harvested to make the briquettes — and the amount of Co2 emitted by your barbecue is equal to the amount of Co2 absorbed by the new trees.

Though less user-friendly than grilling with charcoal or gas, the most sustainable way to grill is by using solar power — which emits neither carbon dioxide nor any other greenhouse gases. The El Solito Parabolic Solar Barbeque uses reflective aluminum to focus the light of the sun and achieve temperatures high enough to grill food. Unfortunately, this green grill isn't the most convenient one. It's not ideal for people with shady backyards because it must be placed in a spot that gets full sun, and if it's cloudy on the day of your barbecue, it won't be possible to cook.

Gearing Up:

Once you've got your grill figured out, you'll want to pick up a few green accessories for fire-starting, recycling, and outdoor fun. If you're using a charcoal grill, steer clear of lighter fluid, which can emit volatile chemicals when lit and contribute to smog. Instead, light your fire with an inexpensive chimney starter, or — if you've got an electrical outlet nearby — try an electric charcoal starter.

Whether you're heating your grill with charcoal or propane, it's worth picking up some recycled aluminum foil to grill your veggies with ease. The foil recycling process only uses 5 percent of the energy used to produce "virgin" foil, and after you use it, you can rinse it off or toss it right in the recycling bin with your empty cans so it can be reused again. Clearly labeled recycling bins make sorting recyclables a breeze for your party guests, and for smaller spaces, colorful stackable recycling bins from HSN will brighten up your recycling center without breaking the bank. And if you don't already compost, now's a great time to start. You'll set a really good example for your guests if you show them how easy it is to put all their food waste and other biodegradable materials in a compost bin.

If you've got enough space for a game of Frisbee, burn some calories and keep the kids (of all ages) busy with Patagonia's Freestyle Whirl Disc, which is made with 60 percent post consumer plastics.