Waste Not This Thanksgiving Holiday: Tips And Tricks

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — It may be hard to believe... but nearly 200 million pounds of turkey are thrown away each year at Thanksgiving.

As we work to preserve our natural resources, the County of Orange would like to encourage residents to recycle right this holiday season.

"By making a conscience decision about what goes in your waste bin, we can ensure our landfills have space for years to come," a spokesperson from Orange County Waste & Recycling said.

OC Waste & Recycling has come up with some suggestions on how you can help protect Mother Earth this Thanksgiving.

"It’s important to plan ahead for the meal and practice portion control by purchasing food according to your guest list," they said.

Still have too much? An alternative to throwing away those pounds of leftovers is to compost them.

Also make sure to set the table like a recycling professional.

Use reusable plates and silverware if you can and avoid single-use plastics.

Finally, take household items and upcycle them into holiday decorations.

Find more fun and festive decor ideas this holiday season, while staying eco-friendly.

If you are having trouble figuring out where to bring items you no longer need, visit OCRecycleGuide.com for an A-Z guide on how to recycle right.