FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: 10/12/2019 Contact: Jane Wilch, Recycling Coordinator Phone: 319-887-6110
Tips on reducing waste this Thanksgiving
When hosting a large number of people for a meal, it’s easy to over-prepare.
Consider these reduction tips when planning, cooking, and enjoying your delicious Thanksgiving meal.
1.) Plan your shopping list
Take a moment to plan your shopping list; only buy what you know you’ll use. This is especially important when purchasing perishable items like produce, dairy, and meat.
Don’t forget your reusable shopping bags!
2.) Skip paper or plastic cutlery
Ditch disposable, and go for reusable cutlery, dishware, and napkins. They are better for the environment, and reduce your trash load for the holiday week.
3.) Take only what you’ll eat
On a holiday that is all about eating, it’s easy for your eyes to grow bigger than your stomach. Be mindful of your serving size. Give yourself, or ask for, small portions. You can always go back for more!
4.) Don’t throw away food!
Eat what you can first, and compost second.
If you have a lot of extra food, pack doggy bags for your guests and/or freeze extra food.
Compost food scraps like potato peels, eggshells, and bones. If you receive curbside trash, recycling, and organics collection services from the City, you can compost at the curb.
Frying a turkey? Recycle the oil. Place it in a sealed plastic bottle, label it ‘vegetable oil,’ and drop it off in the Oil Recycling Shed at the East Side Recycling Center, 2401 Scott Blvd. SE, or at the Iowa City Landfill and Recycling Center, 3900 Hebl Ave. SW.
Glass is accepted at both locations and North Dodge. Wine corks can be recycled at the East Side Recycling Center in the designated bin in the Oil Recycling Shed.
No service reminder: Curbside trucks will not collect on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 28). If this date falls on your service day, have materials to the curb by 7 a.m. the next day.
