The turkey has been purchased, a pie crust is waiting in the fridge, and you’ve managed to avoid snacking on the fried onions for the green bean casserole. Just one Thanksgiving task awaits – a plan for what to do with all that food once the big meal is over.
Here’s what you need to know about trashing Thanksgiving:
🥫 Buy Too Much? Use the Food Bank.
It happens! If you find yourself with food you didn’t end up using, drop it off at the Central Texas Food Bank. The food bank takes canned goods, washed, unbruised produce, shelf stable items like rice and pasta, and more. You can even take refrigerated or frozen food, but the food bank is not always able to accept those items.
🥪 Keep What You Can for Leftovers.
Hopefully you already know this one. Thanksgiving leftovers might be the best part of the holiday. Wrap up what’s leftover for a day-after turkey sandwich.
🦴 Use Everything.
You don’t have to throw away turkey bones – save them and make a broth. You can even save baked potato skins to make chips!
🚮 Compost What You Can’t Use.
If you have a city-issued, green composting bin, here’s what you can compost from Thanksgiving:
- Food-soiled paper (paper plates, paper bags, coffee filters, tissues, and paper napkins)
- Cooked or raw meat
- Poultry and seafood (including bones)
- Cheese
- Dairy products
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Grains
- Pasta
- Bread
Do not compost animal carcasses, liquids, fats, oils, grease, plastic, glass, metals, or styrofoam.
Don’t fret if you don’t have a composting bin! You can drop off your scraps at local farmers markets or community gardens.
🛢️ You Can Recycle Use Cooking Grease and Oil.
Reuse or save your used cooking grease and oil and take it to the city’s Recycle & Reuse Drop-off Center, 2514 Business Center Drive. You’ll have to make an appointment, but it’s so worth it!
Have a great holiday!
