Karen Bell, Keep Liberty Beautiful.

Can you believe that it is time for Thanksgiving already? Now is the time to plan to have a green Thanksgiving. You may wonder how to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner and be green!

Being green can happen by adjusting some preparations for the holiday. According to Recycle-Works, household waste increases by more than 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day. It would be best if you started thinking about being environmentally green now. Thanksgiving Day is an American holiday loaded with tradition, so why not create a new tradition in your family and go green? You can make Thanksgiving a green and eco-friendly celebration from start to finish. It’s not as hard as you think. With a few simple changes, you can make a big difference, and these small changes can give you hope for a more sustainable future.

Plan your shopping so you use your time and fuel wisely. Do not forget to use those reusable shopping bags. Look for organic foods and products with minimal packaging that offer the most recycling opportunities. Buy food according to your party’s size. This will reduce the amount of waste you produce. Encourage your guests to pitch in by clearly marking your recycling bins for them to use. Recycling all packaging and beverage containers will significantly reduce the number of times you must take the trash out and the amount of garbage you send to the landfill.

If you buy local, not only can you enjoy fresh food, but you will also support our local economy. Check for farmer’s markets, family farms, community-supported agriculture programs, and u-pick options in your area for the freshest produce, like eggs, dairy, and grass-fed meat. Use water on tap. Lose the plastic bottled water that creates enormous plastic waste. Check out on-the-counter and system water purifiers to get the healthiest water you can use in reusable beverage holders. If you have several dishes that need to be in the oven at the same temperature, put them in simultaneously to reduce energy use and prep time.

Consider composting your kitchen scraps. Composting kitchen scraps can have a significant impact. Twenty-four percent of the waste Americans send to landfills is organic waste, meaning kitchen scraps and leftovers. Keeping that waste out of landfills is essential. Use real plates and cloth napkins for the holidays! If disposable place settings are your only choice, opt for biodegradable and compostable utensils, napkins, and plates, like those from BiodegradableStore.com.

When it comes to decorations, go natural. Use candles made from soy or vegetable wax. Soy wax is clean burning, without soot or harmful emissions, and has a low melting point, burning at a cooler temperature. Decorate your table with natural and homemade festive decor. Fill clear vases with pinecones, acorns, and colorful leaves. Carve small slits in wine corks, and slide in a piece of paper with a guest’s name to create unique, upcycled place settings. Add a little extra fun to your table with homemade decorations.

With a few simple supplies and a little imagination, you can make incredible eco-friendly Thanksgiving decorations and have a lot of fun as a family. The joy of creating these decorations will add an extra layer of excitement to your Thanksgiving preparations. Have the children participate in a pre-Thanksgiving craft day. The thrill of making these decorations will make your Thanksgiving even more special.

Once the party is over, it’s time to decide what to do with all that leftover food. Make sure your guests take some leftovers in reusable containers. Don’t forget to donate any other leftovers to a local charity. But make sure you save some for yourselves. After all, one of the best Thanksgiving traditions is enjoying those leftovers the next day.

A green Thanksgiving will enrich your family’s holiday experience because you will know that you have made the world a little brighter by reducing your environmental impact. And that’s something we all can be thankful for. By choosing to be eco-friendly, you’re not just celebrating Thanksgiving but also contributing to a healthier planet. Your actions, no matter how small, can make a significant difference. Please remember, on Thanksgiving, make sure to “give thanks”!

The Keep Liberty Beautiful staff would like you to know that we are always thankful for Liberty County’s support, and we wish you and your family a safe and Happy Thanksgiving! If you have any questions or need to contact us about KLB programs, please call us at (912) 880-4888

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