Of all the food-centric holidays, Thanksgiving may be tops for food waste. Over 20% of the food on the dinner table will end up in the trash. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Kelly Bell coordinates the Master Recyclers Program for Lane County. She said there’s a lot to consider before tossing food scraps. “Food waste in the landfill creates methane. Methane is a highly impactful greenhouse gas. So, all of the food that you can keep out of the landfill, the better,” she said.
It’s not just wasted food that drains resources. Bell said, think of all the water it takes to grow the food and the fuel needed to transport it.
Bell has a few tricks. She encouraged serving local foods- they have a lower carbon footprint because no transportation was required. Have dinner guests bring reusable containers so leftovers get eaten. Promote small portions by setting out smaller serving spoons. And compost.
Bell said there’s no better way of giving thanks for our food than to make sure none of it goes to waste.
