With the arrival of November, all thoughts turn to the event that kicks off the holiday season for many… Thanksgiving! While it’s a holiday that many celebrate by filling their tables – and bellies – to overflowing with cherished recipes that have spanned generations, the main focus should always be to take a cue from the name and GIVE THANKS. Your friends at Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful hope you have much for which to be thankful this year, and we encourage you to count a wonderful community and thriving environment among your blessings.
Launched in 2009, the Gwinnett Environmental Sustainability Program is just one way our county government demonstrates its commitment to the efficient use of valuable resources, reducing the impact of our government operations on the environment. This environmentally friendly initiative promotes protection and restoration of the community’s natural resources through water and energy conservation, and reduction in air pollution and waste. Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful is deeply involved with our local schools and community partners to educate, engage, and empower environmental stewards to make a positive impact throughout the community. We regularly host community recycling and cleanup events, maintain environmental programs like Adopt-A-Road and Adopt-A-Stream, and innovate with our educational partners to develop initiatives like Food Waste Warriors, Compost Connectors, and Plant-It Forward in our schools.
But enough about us. What are YOU doing to protect the planet at home? Thanksgiving is a terrific time to explore ways to minimize your household’s carbon footprint – not only during the holidays but also going forward into 2025 and beyond. To help you get started, we’ve compiled six ways you can have a Happy – and Earth-Friendly – Thanksgiving this year…
Decorate Your Home with Natural Materials or Items Made with Recycled Materials
When decorating for the holidays, use natural materials – like fall leaves and pinecones you find in the yard or at the park, pumpkins and gourds you can gift back to nature after the holiday, mums from the local nursery or fresh cut flowers from your garden, and dried cornstalks or wheat from a local farm. You can also enlist the kiddos to make a Thanksgiving garland out of yellow, red, orange, brown, and green construction paper made from recycled materials and eco-friendly glue. Help them cut the paper into strips, then encourage them to “count their blessings” as they connect one ring to the next. These garlands can adorn your kitchen and/or dining room – filling each space with gratitude (literally!)
Be Intentional About Your Travel Plans
According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), three of the busiest travel days of the year are the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after Thanksgiving. Because a significant part of the Thanksgiving holiday is gathering friends and loved ones around the table, we’re not suggesting you don’t travel or ask your family not to travel to you. We’re simply encouraging you to be intentional about HOW or WHEN you travel. A study from the UK Government Department of Energy places air travel at the top of the list of modes of transport with the largest carbon emissions. The study recommends travel via electric car, coach bus, or railroad for the smallest carbon footprint. If you must travel by plane, find the best destination for everyone with the least amount of time in the air. For those traveling by gas-powered car or truck, consider traveling to your destination earlier so you’ll spend less time idling in holiday traffic. If you can stick close to home, that would be even better!
Host a Sustainable Supper
In addition to the amount of fuel expended to haul people from one destination to the next during the holidays, a lot of fuel is also used to ship popular menu items like cranberries, potatoes, and turkeys from the farm or manufacturer to grocery chains. Shopping locally and choosing sustainable menu items for your Thanksgiving table is an impactful way to minimize your carbon footprint. Focus on “Georgia Grown” products, source your produce at local farmers’ markets, and order a fresh turkey at your local butcher shop. If baking is not your strong suit, you can order several pies from a local bakery – many of which are family-owned, so there’s the added bonus of supporting a local family. As for all those sides and casseroles you plan to serve alongside the main course, be sure to recycle all those cans, boxes, jars, and bottles. Give those cans, jars, and bottles a quick rinse, and – remember – boxes and cans can be recycled curbside. For tougher residue on cans and glass, consider using a paper towel to wipe out excess to minimize water usage. Glass bottles and jars can be dropped off at Glass Recycling Locations throughout Gwinnett County.
Employ Portion Control to Limit Food Waste
As you plan your Thanksgiving Feast, consider the number of guests and serving sizes to limit food waste. Most recipes include the number of servings to help give you a frame of reference. If you are hosting overnight guests and you know your family loves leftovers, you can include that in your planning. Just do your level best to ensure those leftovers are consumed. As for your food scraps, if you haven’t already started a compost pile or bin at your home, this Thanksgiving may be the perfect time!
Limit Stops and BYOB
In addition to making a shopping list, you should be strategic about planning your list of stops – using the least amount of fuel needed to gather supplies. And – in this instance – BYOB means “bring your own bags.” Be sure to pack your reusable shopping bags in the car before you head out, eliminating the need for plastic and paper bags at the stores. The same holds true for Black Friday. Plan your shopping route and BYOB!!
Avoid Single-Use Plates, Napkins, and Utensils
While paper plates and plastic forks may save you time at the sink – affording you more time to spend with family and friends – it’s not the right move for the environment. Instead, break out your best china and assign one or two friends or family members you’ve been dying to play catchup with to help you rinse, dry, and put away the dishes and silverware after the feast. A couple of added bonuses to using silverware, china, and cloth napkins: 1) Your table will look prettier, and 2) Your guests will feel special.
For more eco-friendly tips and the latest Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful news, be sure to bookmark our blog and connect with us on Facebook!
From the whole GC&B Team, we wish you and yours a Happy and BLESSED Thanksgiving!
Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2022
