Paula Schumacher’s cabin deck at Lone Star Lake is the perfect setting to use eco-conscious outdoor dinnerware. The bowls were purchased at World Market. Eating utensils are by Bambu, also sold at World Market. The placeholders were made by Packerware, based in Lawrence, and the goblets were purchased at a discount store.

It’s time to fire up the grill, pack the picnic basket and head outside for some outdoor dining. For those who wish to set a fun and festive outdoor table, whether on the deck or at the lake, there are some new dinnerware items to consider.

Today’s outdoor dinnerware goes way beyond paper, plastic and Styrofoam, and one of the biggest trends is in going “green.” One way to be more ecoconscious is to choose materials that are natural and biodegradable. Bamboo is one of those materials that are catching on in outdoor, as well as indoor, tableware.

“The hottest thing this year is the Bambu line of disposable dinnerware,” says Julie Donaldson, store manager at World Market, 3106 Iowa. “These plates are FDA-approved and are made from bamboo, a natural product that will break down in four to six months. It’s the big, hot thing for the summer, especially as everyone is moving into a more earth-friendly mind-set.”

The Bambu collection of dinner plates is priced eight for $4.99 and are intended for one-time use. But, Donaldson says, if you are serving lighter foods, such as sandwiches and chips on them, they hold up well to cleaning and can be reused.

When it comes to serving pieces, Donaldson suggests Birchwood bowls, which come in several sizes and are also biodegradable. Disposable wooden chop sticks, knives, forks and spoons are also very hot this summer.

Price is important, and Paula Schumacher, who with several friends owns a house on Lone Star Lake, says that the cost of eco-friendly products is often higher, which can be a problem when entertaining large numbers of people. She says she is more budget-conscious when throwing a party for a larger group and will often choose regular plasticware.

“But we are greener at the lake because we have to cart the garbage out, and there’s more peer pressure to be green like everyone else,” Schumacher says.

Another growing trend in outdoor tableware is a retro look. Many of this summer’s dinnerware collections sport ’70s-inspired floral patterns and swirls, and many of those hot designs come in melamine. Melamine is extremely durable and now comes in bright colors and prints and a variety of shapes.

“Melamine is very eco-friendly and is the best bet for outdoor tableware,” says Stuart Brand, executive team leader for soft lines at SuperTarget, 3201 Iowa.

SuperTarget also carries several designs of melamine plates that are kid-friendly and come in fun shapes, such as a cow’s head or frog.

Of course, no outdoor gathering is complete without cold beverages. Another hot item when it gets hot are plastic glasses with an insulating, freezable liquid surrounding them. These containers can be frozen, and then when filled with beverages, the frozen gel keeps the contents perfectly chilled even in the heat and humidity of a hot Kansas evening.

With today’s hot new materials and designs, any table can look cool and be earth-friendly too.