Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude, gather with loved ones, and enjoy delicious food.
However, it’s also a day that generates more than 300 million pounds of food waste. In addition to food scraps, single-use packaging and decorations often end up in landfills, adding to the environmental impact of the holiday. This year, consider hosting a zero-waste Thanksgiving to show gratitude to our planet.
Here are some simple tips for making your holiday more sustainable:
- Plan ahead to prevent food waste. Thoughtful planning can go a long way in reducing food waste. Use Save The Food’s “Guest-imator” tool to more accurately plan for how much food you need to buy.
- Use reusable containers for any leftovers. Instead of relying on disposable bags or containers, store leftovers in reusable containers. You can also encourage guests to bring their own reusable containers to take home any extra food, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
- Skip disposable tableware and décor. Where possible, prioritize reusable tableware and natural décor like pumpkins, squash, and candles that can double as compostable items after the holiday. If reusable tableware isn’t an option, opt for compostable alternatives like wooden utensils and unlined paper plates.
- Give new life to food scraps. Not all food waste is avoidable, but composting is an excellent way to ensure that food scraps don’t end up in the landfill. Not only does composting food scraps prevent the generation of methane gas in landfills, it also contributes to healthy soils.
- An alternative way to take care of food scraps is to save them for another cooking project. Veggie scraps and turkey bones can be used to create a delicious broth – check out an example recipe!