It’s official, the coats are away, the sun is out and forecasters are predicting the warmest weekend of the year so far for the upcoming May Bank Holiday.
Whether you’re planning a massive family gathering, lighting up the BBQ, or just trying to keep the kids entertained over the long weekend, we are all eager to make the most of this gorgeous British sunshine.
But as any parent or party host knows, a weekend of massive fun can easily lead to a mountain of waste by Tuesday morning. Single-use plastics, leftover food and discarded packaging have a habit of piling up.
To help you enjoy a brilliant, guilt-free long weekend, we’ve put together the ultimate guide to sun-filled kids’ activities and crowd-pleasing BBQ hacks that are as good for the planet as they are for your bank holiday vibes.
1. Sunshine Boredom Busters for the Kids
With the weather hitting the mid-20s, it’s the perfect excuse to get the kids away from screens and out into the fresh air. Here are three fun, sustainable activities that cost next to nothing:
The ‘Upcycled’ Garden Olympics
Before you throw your weekly recycling away, raid the bin for materials!
Plastic Bottle Bowling: Fill empty plastic milk or water bottles with a bit of water (or sand) to weigh them down, grab a tennis ball and you have an instant garden bowling alley.
Cardboard Box Frisbee: Cut large circles out of old delivery boxes, let the kids decorate them with paints or markers and see whose DIY frisbee flies the furthest.
Nature Paintbrush Exploring
Take the kids on a mini-adventure around the garden or a local park to collect fallen leaves, twigs, pinecones and long grass. Tie their findings to the end of a stick using a bit of twine to create “nature paintbrushes.” Dip them in non-toxic washable paint and let them create beautiful, textured art on old cardboard boxes.
DIY Wildflower ‘Seed Bombs’
Got empty egg cartons? Tear them up, soak them in warm water until they form a pulp, squeeze out the excess water, and mix in a packet of UK wildflower seeds. Roll them into small balls, let them dry in the sun, and then let the kids throw them into bare patches of the garden. They’ll love watching the flowers grow over the summer!
2. The Eco-Friendly BBQ Blueprint
Nothing says a UK bank holiday quite like the smell of a barbecue wafting over the garden fence. Hosting a greener grill doesn’t mean compromising on the fun, it just takes a few smart tweaks!
Ditch the Disposable Grills: If you can, avoid single-use aluminum foil BBQs. They can’t be recycled because of the charcoal residue, and they often scorch the beautiful green grass beneath them.
Say Goodbye to Single-Use Plastic: It’s tempting to buy plastic cups and plates to save on the washing up, but they clog up local waste streams. Opt for reusables, or if you must use disposables, choose greener alternatives that can be recycled.
The ‘Guest Sorting Station’: When people are having a drink and a chat, they naturally get lazy with where they throw their rubbish. Set up two clearly labeled bins or bags near the patio: one for clean recycling (beer cans, glass bottles, clean cardboard) and one for general waste. It takes the guesswork out for your guests and saves you a messy sorting job the next day.
3. Don’t Forget the Food Waste!
Did you know that food waste is one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gases when it ends up in landfill?
Prep with a Plan: It’s a classic British tradition to buy enough BBQ food to feed an army, but try to buy only what you need.
Love Your Leftovers: If you do have leftovers, get them straight into the fridge. Leftover grilled chicken, burgers, and veggies make incredible fillings for wraps, salads, and flatbreads on Bank Holiday Monday.
Compost the Scraps: Got burger buns that went stale or salad leaves that wilted in the sun? Toss them into your garden compost bin rather than the general waste. If you don’t have a compost bin, make sure they go into your house food waste caddy.
Enjoy the Sunshine!
At Evolve Waste, we are passionate about keeping our communities clean, vibrant, and sustainable – whether that’s managing large-scale commercial waste for businesses or helping you make greener choices during a garden family BBQ.
Have a wonderful, safe and beautifully sunny Bank Holiday weekend!
