Throw a 'Susty Party!'

We recently discovered this amazing Web site called Susty Party [www.sustyparty.com]. Started by two young women in NYC, the site is chock full of materials that are not only recycled, but compostable! That includes bamboo plates and forks, biodegradable bowls, and more. They even offer recycling bins and free, downloadable signage to let guests at a party know the materials they are using are sustainable and to direct them where to put them afterwards! The best part is that the products are cheaper than most other sites and very affordable.

Take these 10″ biodegradable bagasse plates, which are made from the remains of sugarcane stalks after they’re crushed in sugar refineries to extract juice. This waste byproduct, officially known as bagasse (BUH – gas), is typically burned so these plates help reduce pollutants in the air AND eliminate waste. Bagasse plates will turn back into soil through composting in 6 to 7 weeks.

Biodegradeable, compostable plates from Susty Party

Then there are these adorable and attractive wooden-looking plates, manufactured in India by an innovative technique of steaming fallen leaves. VerTerra, an NYC-owned company, brought the technique to full-scale production for these very compostable and additive-free products. How fabulous are these?