Planning Ahead for Thanksgiving

It seems the older I get, the earlier I plan for the holidays, including Thanksgiving. In “Martha Stewart Organizing” Stewart notes that she plans her Thanksgiving meal and makes and freezes her pie dough the first week of November. If it isn’t too early for Martha, it isn’t too early for me. I’ve found that starting early helps me enjoy the day more and I’ve also found it means I waste a lot less too.

There are a lot of options for ways to reuse and reduce our holiday waste that we may not consider at first, but can have a big impact. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the volume of household waste in the United States generally increases 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day adding about two billion extra pounds to landfills across the country. Whitfield County often disposes of about 700 to 800 tons of garbage on a regular day so decreasing the impact of holiday waste can make a big difference. 

Start your holiday off right by making thoughtful choices at the store. Pick the “ugly” produce if it is going to get chopped up anyway. The uglier produce that is set out is less likely to get chosen and ends up going to waste at the grocery store. By using the less desirable produce, you are helping reduce food waste.

As you shop, consider what types of packaging your ingredients come in. For example, buying your milk in a jug means it can be recycled, but that same milk in a carton means it will be added to the landfill pile. Carefully consider what packaging you will be able to recycle when you are done. Residents in Whitfield County have access to recycling drop off sites that include bins for cardboard boxes, paperboard, mixed paper, aluminum cans, bi-metal cans, glass bottles and jars, and plastic that is marked #1 and #2. Recycling allows these materials gives them a new life, supports our local economy, and saves space in our landfill.

Holiday decorating can also be a large source of waste. A portion of it comes from the decorations we put out each year. Instead of incorporating plastic décor that you’ll only use once like plastic figurines, fake leaves, or plastic tablecloths try using items from nature or reusable items. While you can store some plastic decor to use each year, by picking out real leaves, pinecones, and other natural items you save water, oil, and energy in the production of the item. You can also make this a fun tradition if you have little ones in the family. Once you are done, you can return these items to the great outdoors instead of your trash bag.

Another key to reducing waste is planning for leftovers of both your ingredients and food. Some Thanksgiving recipes might call for unique ingredients you don’t often use like cranberries or pecans. Look for ways to freeze or dry these ingredients to make them last longer or plan your meals for the week after Thanksgiving using these ingredients. If you run out of ideas, try using supercook.com. The website or app lets you enter ingredients you already have and suggests recipes that include them. For cooked leftovers, use Tupperware, mason jars, or beeswax wrap to save the food for later instead of single-use plastic. Make sure they are clearly marked and in a prominent place in the fridge to increase their chance of actually getting eaten.

When someone wastes one item, they waste all of the energy, water, and resources that were used to get that item onto a store shelf. By thinking about where our food, packaging, and decorations come from before we buy or toss them, we help save natural resources and save ourselves some landfill space. Start with practicing this type of thinking this month and visit dwswa.org if you need reminders of what and where to recycle after the holiday is over.

Amy Hartline is the recycling and education program coordinator for the Dalton-Whitfield Solid Waste Authority. Have a recycling question? Contact her at (706) 278-5001 or ahartline@dwswa.org.