Summer BBQ guide to waste-free fun
Summer’s heating up and so are the grills! But before you fire up the BBQ, here are some tips for keeping your outdoor event low on waste and high on fun.
Outdoor get-togethers are a great way to enjoy Auckland’s parks and beaches, but they can also create a surprising amount of waste. With a little planning, you can host a fun, low-waste event that’s kind to the environment and your bank balance.
Handy tips for sorting the recycling and rubbish
Whether you're hosting a BBQ or a picnic, it’s easy to set up a simple waste station:
- Bring three bins or bags: one each for recycling, food scraps, and rubbish.
- Label each bin or bag clearly so your guests know what goes where. A quick sign can make a big difference.
- Take it home: taking your rubbish, recycling and food scraps with you when you leave means you can make sure it’s all sorted. And remember all our regional parks are rubbish free.
Recyclables include clean paper, cardboard, tins, glass bottles, and plastics numbered 1, 2, and 5. Rinse out dirty containers before putting into your recycling bin at home and separate out the soft plastics – they can be returned to most supermarkets. Remember to tip your recyclables out of the bag and into the recycling bin when you get home (bagged recycling cannot be recycled).
Love food, hate waste
We all want to make sure our guests have enough to eat but this worry can quickly lead to over-catering. The Love Food Hate Waste website offers great tools to help you plan smarter and waste less when hosting:
- Planned meals help to avoid overbuying, so it pays to think ahead about what you’ll eat. If friends and family are bringing plates, coordinate what you’re bringing so you don’t end up with 13 potato salads!
- Serve smart: Offer smaller portions and let guests come back for seconds.
- Get creative with leftovers: Turn BBQ extras into wraps, salads, or stir-fries the next day.
- Pack food scraps in a compostable liner or container and drop them straight into your food scraps bin when you get home.
- Keep your food fresh and safe to eat by using icepacks and chilly bins and don’t leave uneaten food out in the sun for long periods.
On the topic of food safety - do you know the difference between “Best Before” and “Use By” date labels on food packaging?
- Use By = safety. Don’t eat it after this date.
- Best Before = quality. It might not be perfect, but it’s still safe to eat.
Love Food Hate Waste found that 2 in 5 Kiwis are confused about this. Don’t let good food go to waste - check the date, trust your senses, and take the Great Date Debate quiz to find out how to make sure your food is safe to eat and waste less. Anyone taking part in the quiz before 30 November 2025 can choose to enter the draw to win 1 of 15 $100 grocery vouchers!
Explore more tips and recipes for preventing food waste and saving money at lovefoodhatewaste.co.nz.
Event day essentials
Here’s a quick checklist to keep your event low-waste and stress-free:
- Reusable plates, cups, and cutlery.
- Food scraps bag or container.
- Clearly labelled bins or bags.
- Ice packs or chilly bins to keep food fresh.
- Extra leftover containers for guests to take food home.
BBQ safety tips (because safe is sustainable)
If you're using a public BBQ or bringing your own gas BBQ, keep these tips in mind:
- Only gas BBQs are allowed in Auckland parks and beaches.
- Keep BBQs off the ground and away from trees or dry grass.
- Never leave it unattended and always clean up after use.
- Dispose of waste properly, take it with you and don’t leave rubbish behind.
Find your nearest BBQ-friendly park or beach here using our Find a Park or Beach tool and selecting ‘barbecue’ as a filter.
