While Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for the year’s bounty, it can also produce a lot of uneaten food and other items that end up the garbage. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce waste this Thanksgiving.

• Think about how much food you realistically need to avoid cooking too much. Make a list based on your plan, and use it while grocery shopping.
• Buy food and other holiday necessities in bulk, if possible, to reduce packaging waste. Buying products with refillable containers is also a resourceful way to reduce waste.
• Take advantage of reusable dishes and cutlery during Thanksgiving dinner.
• If you’re having guests this holiday, make it easy for them to recycle in your home.
• When decorating the house, recycle each year’s decorations or be creative and make a centerpiece of what you already have.
• Thanksgiving dinner often results in leftover food—safely store leftovers in clean, used jars, jugs, and cans. You can also pack food in recyclable containers and give them to family and friends.
• Donate untouched leftovers to a food bank or homeless shelter.
• Leftover food can also be composted.
• Continue to enjoy Thanksgiving leftovers by creating new meals and recipes. For example, leftover turkey can be used in soups, sandwiches, and salads.

For more information on how to reduce food waste throughout the year, visit the EPA.

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