Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 11/21/2019 09:36 AM EST
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Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter 

Stuff the Turkey, Not The Trash

Tday

Holiday season panic...we all experience it. How much food do I buy? Is this turkey big enough? Are you sure we have enough food? Where am I going to put all of these leftovers? Who is going to eat all of these leftovers?!

Millions of pounds of leftover food is thrown away every year. What if there was a way to plan more accordingly and load off some of those leftovers? To reduce wasted food this holiday season:

  • Plan ahead: Have an accurate head count to plan portions accordingly. Use Save the Food's Guest-imator calculator, a tool to help estimate how much food you will need based on your head count.
  • Cook with imperfections: Purchase imperfect produce to use in cooked dishes, such as bruised apples for apple pie.
  • Share: Encourage guests to bring a reusable container they can bring leftovers home in.
  • Creative Leftovers: Enjoy your Thanksgiving leftovers days after by creating new dishes like turkey soup or hot turkey sandwiches. Discover new recipes from Save the Food or Love Food Hate Waste.
  • Freeze: Be realistic about the leftovers you can eat, and freeze the extra that won't last in the refrigerator.

Be grateful, not wasteful this holiday season, and help us reduce wasted food in New York State.

Do you have a creative recipe for how you use your Thanksgiving leftovers? Share with us at organicrecycling@dec.ny.gov. We encourage pictures.

Swamped with "Stuff"? Celebrate Buy Nothing Day

Back of hiker standing on snowy mountainDo you ever look at your "stuff" and think about where it all comes from? From our clothing to cooking utensils, cell-phones, and shoes - all of our "stuff" comes from natural resources, and making all that stuff requires a lot of energy. Making one cotton shirt requires enough water for one person to drink for 2.5 years. Today, we're consuming more resources than ever before in history in a culture that increasingly favors disposability. Is it time to start rethinking our stuff?

Celebrate Buy Nothing Day November 28, 2019 instead of rushing the stores on Black Friday by doing one of the following:

  • Buy nothing. Participate by not participating.
  • OptOutside. Instead of staring at a screen or fighting through malls, get outside for some fresh air on public lands.
  • Call a friend. Take the day to try a new activity with a friend.
  • Volunteer. Final a local charitable organization or non-profit to volunteer with.
  • Host a clothing swap or exchange. Exchange coats or clothing with friends, family or at a larger community event.

Girl fixing stuffed giraffe

  • Repair. Find a Repair Café in your area.
  • Learn. Explore The Story of Stuff to see how our stuff effects ourselves and the planet.
  • Share. Follow and use #BuyNothingDay on social media to share what you did to celebrate.

 

Upcoming Events

Conferences, Workshops & Webinars

  • January 28 - 31, 2020: Compost2020 - Charleston, South Carolina

Funding Opportunities - Application Deadlines

We Want To Hear From You!

Is there a topic you'd like to learn more about or a public event or workshop related to recycling (organics, textiles, traditional recyclables, etc.) you'd like the greater community to know more about? E-mail us at organicrecycling@dec.ny.gov, and it could be featured in an upcoming Solid Waste & Recycling Newsletter.