5 Ways To Have a Zero Waste Thanksgiving
Note: Through affiliate marketing, we receive commissions from some links in this blog. More info, Paid For Advertising.
Thanksgiving is known for overindulgence.
According to Stanford University, “Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than any other time of year.”
But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Our recycling & composting services help some Omaha Metro Area households & businesses reduce their landfill waste by as much as 50-90%.
But beyond just recycling & composting, we’re going to share 5 quick hacks on how to reduce your overall waste this Thanksgiving season.
1) Plan Your Portions
Get a group chat going with family on who’s bringing what. Try to scale the amount of food with the amount of people more appropriately.
If sustainability isn’t the right angle with the in-laws, try the money-saving or less-food-prep-equals-less-work angle.
2) Shop Plastic-Free
Make a goal of reducing your overall plastic consumption. Here’s a few ways …
Bring your own tote bags
Pick produce not wrapped in plastic
Natural Grocers supplies brown paper bags & certified compostable bags
Exist Green is Omaha’s first zero-waste retailer with a number of food options
3) Dish-ware: Reusable Over Single-Use
From an eco-standpoint, reusable dish-ware is always friendlier to the Earth over single-use.
That’s because of the upstream and downstream waste cycle.
But if you don’t have enough dish-ware for all your guests, here’s 2 eco-friendly options:
Use compostable dish-ware in tandem with our Compost Club subscription.
Rent dishware! Omaha’s Waste Busters Dish program delivers everything you need pre-washed. At the end, just put it all back in the tubs it came with, dirty and all. Email Anita at wastebustersomaha@gmail.com for info.
4) Leftover Station
Set up a station for guests to take leftovers home.
Start by saving all the food packaging you already toss out. Things like …
Plastic containers from salad mixes
Glass jars from pasta sauce
Large plastic bags with zip liner
Keep this going by designating a “reuse” basket in your kitchen. Do this and you’ll never have to purchase Ziplock bags again.
5) Compost & Recycle it!
For food you don’t consume or compostable dish-ware you use, toss it in a compost bin.
Watch our video on how to start composting at home, or join our residential Compost Club drop-off and soil subscription.