Now that November is upon us, the holidays are just around the corner. In the United States, Thanksgiving is a national holiday that many people celebrate as a time to be thankful for all they have and to also spend time with the people they love the most.
This Thanksgiving, as you indulge in tasty traditional holiday dishes, be sure to keep in mind the great things you can be doing for the environment while you celebrate time with your loved ones. Below you’ll find five helpful tips to make your Thanksgiving experience not only a thankful one but also an eco-conscious one.
Reduce waste
Simplifying your holidays is tempting, but don’t get caught up in using disposable items like plates, cups and napkins. While it may make cleanup a whole lot easier, it’s worse for the environment in the long run. So this year, bring out your best china and some pretty cloth napkins. You’ll feel better knowing you’re not contributing to landfills!
Recycle whatever you can
From pop bottles to food cans, be sure to recycle every little thing you can. If you need to take a trip to your local grocery store with garbage bags full of recyclables the day after Thanksgiving, then do so. It will put a little money back in your pocket as well, which is great because holidays can be quite expensive.
As always, shop local
Supporting local farming is a great way to keep local businesses on their feet. Buy as much of your groceries from local farmers markets as you possibly can. Homegrown produce is always more delicious than produce that has been shipped from other places across the country anyway!
Go organic
Pesticides are terrible for the environment and human health. You can read up on what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has to say for more information about that, but the overall point here is that when you purchase organic foods, you can feel good about supporting farmers who are environmentally responsible.
Donate your leftovers
With organizations like Forgotten Harvest, giving away leftover food is almost effortless! Help someone in need this holiday by donating your extra food items to a person who truly needs it.
Jennifer Griffin, Contributing Writer and Public Relations, GreeningDetroit.com
Jennifer is pursuing a degree in Journalism and English from Wayne State University, and she is also a Contributing Writer for The South End.
