Thanksgiving is a time for celebration, but also a moment to remember sustainability, as advised by the Yolo County Central Landfill (YCCL). The Landfill, including its Blue Barn Thrift Store and Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility, will be closed on Thursday, pausing for the Thanksgiving holiday. Normal operations will recommence the following day at 6:30 a.m., according to the Yolo County official announcement.
Residents planning to deep fry their turkeys are given a cordial reminder to properly dispose of used oil. This waste can be brought to the HHW program, which will reopen on November 29. "Cooking oil should never be poured down the drain or into storm drains, as it can cause significant environmental damage," Yolo County officials have stated. With the landfill closure, Waste Management (WM) curbside collection will also be delayed by one day, affecting those typically serviced on Thanksgiving.
The landfill staff extends a call to consciously mitigate food waste during this time of plenty. Suggestions to reduce landfill contributions include reusing containers for leftovers, transforming excess food into new dishes, or giving unopened items to community initiatives such as local food pantries. For inedible scraps, utilizing the organics cart is recommended for appropriate composting at Yolo County's Compost Facility.
In tandem with this guidance, the Yolo County announcement references research by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Stanford University, noting an uptick in American trash by 25% from Thanksgiving to New Year's. They urge residents to adopt sustainable practices like using reusable gift bags, supporting local businesses to curtail emissions, and choosing experiences rather than material gifts. When shopping online, it's suggested to order early to consolidate shipments and, thus, decrease delivery-related carbon footprints.
