Cornwall Council urges residents not to release balloons during Jubilee street parties
The authority has issued some tips and advice to keep things eco-friendly and safe
Last updated 3rd Jun 2022
Cornwall Council has issued some tips and advice on how residents hosting Jubilee street parties can keep things eco-friendly.
More than 80 events and gatherings are being held in the Duchy over the long bank holiday weekend.
These include everything from parades and private gatherings to Big Lunches, with multiple roads set to be closed.
Now the authority is reminding people what to do with stuff like paper cups and bunting.
Officials are also asking people to avoid using balloons and, if they do not to let them fly off.
Cornwall Council has also confirmed that rubbish and recycling collections will continue as normal over the long weekend.
How can I keep my Jubilee street party eco-friendly?
Cornwall Council has tweeted the following tips for anyone holding a Jubilee street party:
Consider reusing your bunting for another event or recycle with other soft plastics, like bread bags, at your supermarket.
Ask everyone to bring reusable plates, cups and cutlery if they can.
If you're using paper plates and cups with a plastic coating, sadly they can't be recycled and will have to be binned.
If your paper plate is billed as 'compostable' then sadly we can't recycle it with the rest of your paper. Put it in your compost or rubbish bin.
Avoid balloons if you can. If you must have them, don't let them fly off. Make sure they're safely disposed of in a rubbish bin.
On top of this, guidance has been released on how to prepare and store food safely, to avoid any health issues.
How can I handle party food safely?
The Food Standards Agency says: "Warm weather and outdoor cooking are the perfect conditions for bacteria to grow and there are risks when preparing and serving chilled food in these conditions.
"Following the 4Cs of food hygiene will help you prepare, make and store food safely.
"You can do this by:
Cleaning effectively removes the bacteria on hands, equipment and surfaces. This helps to stop harmful bacteria and viruses from spreading onto food.
Chilling your food below 8 degrees will stop or significantly slow the growth of bacteria. This temperature must be maintained and foods that need to be chilled like sandwich fillings should not be left out of the fridge for more than four hours.
Cooking food correctly by following the guidance on time and temperature.
Avoiding cross-contamination which might lead to bacteria passing from raw foods to ready-to-eat foods via things like re-usable shopping bags, knives and chopping boards.
"Good personal hygiene is also essential when you're preparing food. This will help ensure that bacteria you may have come into contact with isn't passed to your friends, family and neighbours in their food".
You can read more party food safety advice on the Food Standards Agency's website and a street parties checklist can be found on Cornwall Council's website.