COLUMBUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—Thanksgiving is a time to gather with loved ones, express gratitude, and share a celebratory meal. Unfortunately, holiday meals often lead to significant waste. This year, Rumpke encourages everyone to reduce holiday waste to save limited landfill space and money.
Making more sustainable choices starts before the grocery store. Create a budget and a list of supplies and ingredients needed to avoid overspending and overbuying.
You can further reduce food waste with these alternatives:
- Assign a side dish or dessert for each attendee to bring.
- Freeze leftovers to enjoy after the holiday.
- Use leftovers in other recipes.
An eco-friendly Thanksgiving shouldn’t stop there—we should also consider whether the food packaging we buy at the store is recyclable.
What can you recycle during turkey day? Rumpke’s acceptable items list for curbside recycling includes:
- Food and beverage cans
- Sparkling beverage glass bottles and jam jars
- Juice, broth, and milk cartons and plastic jugs
- Clear, plastic berry clamshell containers
Remember to avoid throwing the following into your recycling bin:
- Aluminum foil, tins, and casserole pans—these are heavily food-contaminated.
- Single-use plastic utensils.
- Plastic wrap and shopping bags—these wrap around the equipment and dirty the stream.
- Batteries and electronics (E-Waste)—when punctured, these items cause destructive fires in our trucks and facilities.
Certain items not accepted in curbside recycling may be taken to specialty recycling drop-offs. Contact your local solid waste district or visit their website to locate proper drop-off locations.
From our family to yours, Rumpke wishes everyone a happy holiday!
To learn more about Rumpke, visit rumpke.com.