How to throw a party without trashing the planet

Whether you're throwing a big birthday bash or a more sober, yet scintillating soiree, parties can be messy.

Cloth bunting can be used over and over and makes a great decoration.

Worse still, parties can not only cost you an arm and leg, they can cost all of us the Earth.

Piles of plastic plates, cups, straws, one-use party hats and poppers plus a collection of unwanted, glittery gifts are commonplace after social gatherings.

Most of it ends up in landfill or escaping into the oceans.

With growing concern over single-use plastics and their impacts on the Earth — and us — here are some ideas on how you can party hard without trashing the planet.

Read the ABC News story by Carol Rääbus - “How to throw a party without trashing the planet.”