Tips For Greening Your Thanksgiving

1 Carpool

There's no reason to drive solo to a big gathering. Coordinate with friends or family to pack your car, and cut down on your carbon footprint.

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2 Compost Kitchen Scraps

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You're sure to have plenty of vegetable peelings and other kitchen scraps from holiday meal prep this Thursday. Divert that veggie matter from the waste stream by composting it. If you don't have a composter at home yet, then make sure to put it on your holiday wish list!

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3 Burn an Eco Log

Try burning a Java Log ($54 for six) this holiday. Each log lasts two to three hours and creates 78 percent less carbon monoxide and up to 66 percent less creosote than cordwood fires while also using a coffee byproduct wisely.

Source: Instagram user fallingowl

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4 Turn Off the Lights

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Light some soy candles, and turn off the electricity to save some power and create ambience at dinner.

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5 Use Cloth Napkins

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Cut down on paper waste by breaking out your beautiful cloth napkins.

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6 Try an Alternative to Flowers

Get outside, and enjoy a nature walk. Bring along a pair of pruners and prune branches, or pick leaves to create a seasonal bouquet.

Or you can even go the distance and make your own coffee-filter peonies. Leave them as is, or dye them pink to add a touch of color.

Photo: Sarah Lipoff

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7 Turn Down the Thermostat

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Save energy by turning down the thermostat on the day of the feast. Your house will warm up naturally thanks to the extra people visiting!

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8 Ban Disposable Silverware, Cups, and Dishes

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Don't even think about purchasing disposable silverware, cups, or plates, even with a large crowd. Ikea is a great source for cheap glassware and plates, if you need them. Or grab some temporary tableware from a thrift shop if you're feeding a small army.

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9 Fully Load the Dishwasher

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Save energy by keeping your dishwasher fully loaded. Also, consider turning off the drying cycle and enlisting dinner guests to dry dishes by hand. This will also allow you to get another load in more quickly.

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10 Send Home Leftovers

Don't let delicious Thanksgiving leftovers go to waste! Make them even more appetizing by sending guests home with a cute, compostable, personalized container.

Source: Gridley + Graves via Country Living

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