FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pia Piscitelli
619.704.2781
ppiscitelli@cleansd.org
Holiday Meal Planning to Reduce Food Waste and Clogged Pipes
SAN DIEGO COUNTY – Can you picture 833 million Thanksgiving dinners being thrown directly into the trash? Each year, Americans waste that much food between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day alone. That’s 5 million tons of food being thrown away. Meanwhile, 48.1 million Americans are struggling to avoid hunger daily.
On average, San Diegans throw away 5 pounds of trash a day, the most in the state! Fifteen percent of that is food waste, adding up to almost 500,000 pounds each year.
Food that ends up in landfills means wasted money, labor, transportation, water and land resources. Worse, as it breaks down in landfills it produces methane, a gas that is 25 times more harmful to our health and environment than carbon dioxide.
Fortunately San Diego residents can take small steps to make a big difference, starting this holiday season. By following the tips below from the County of San Diego, residents can save money and help the environment while enjoying their holiday meals.
REDUCING WASTE AT HOME – In a season when we give thanks for what we have and consider giving to those in need, reducing food waste feels even more important. Buying and preparing the right amount can save money and time. Planning ahead to use leftovers in new dishes and setting aside containers for guests to take home leftovers can help make sure the food that is prepared is eaten. Small steps like placing leftovers and perishable items in the front of the refrigerator will also ensure that food gets eaten before it’s condemned to the landfill.
Visit the County of San Diego’s “Food: Too Good to Waste!” page for more tips, including how to keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer
KEEPING FATS, OILS AND GREASES OUT OF THE DRAIN – Another important way to protect our environment (and plumbing) is to take care with the oils used for cooking during the holidays. Fats, oils, and greases have harmful effects on our environment when not disposed of properly. In recent years, deep fried turkeys have become an increasingly popular holiday tradition. Frying a turkey uses up to three gallons of cooking oil. If discarded in kitchen sinks or other drains, this oil may block pipes and cause sewage overflow in homes, streets, lawns, and our ocean, not to mention severely damage home plumbing systems!
Contrary to popular belief, mixing oil with soap is not an effective method for preventing sewage backup. Instead, San Diegans should accumulate their oils in a secure container and recycle them at a certified location. Save oil containers and caps/lids for use after cooking. Once used cooking oil has cooled, pour into empty oil container and cap it. Do not mix chemicals in the used oil and label container “used cooking oil” to avoid confusion. To find the closest drop off location, unincorporated County residents are encouraged to visit the County’s Recycling and Household Hazardous Waste database, www.WasteFreeSD.org, or call 1-877-R-1-EARTH (1-877-713-2784).
LEARNING MORE ABOUT REDUCING WASTE – Residents wanting to learn more about how to reduce waste, can attend I Love A Clean San Diego’s free, family-friendly community workshops focused on zero waste principles and practices. An upcoming Zero Waste Workshop, titled “Zero Waste 101”, will be held at the South Chula Vista Library on Saturday, December 3rd, from 1:00-3:30pm. Attendees can enjoy hands-on activities, informational lessons, and raffles.
For more information, residents can visit cleansd.org/education/programs.
About I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) As San Diego’s most influential advocate for sustainability, I Love A Clean San Diego (ILACSD) is an environmental catalyst, awakening passion and inspiring action, empowering everyone to improve the health and beauty of our local environment. For over sixty years, we’ve brought the best in all of us together for a lasting, positive impact on our region. We are passion in action. For more information, to volunteer or donate, visit www.cleansd.org or call (619) 291-0103. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.