Ah, the excitement of Thanksgiving dinner with the family!

Everyone gathered around the table enjoying each other’s company, delicious food, and the cheer of the season. If it’s your turn to host the meal, that can be particularly enjoyable! However, it can also induce moments of stress.

We’d like to help alleviate stress in at least one area of hosting, which occurs when the garbage can threatens to overflow, and after a futile attempt to cram more trash inside, an inevitable hunt for a new bag liner begins.

To help avoid the frustrating overflow of trash, we’ve gathered a list of recyclable items that are commonly used at Thanksgiving. These packaging materials can be gathered in a separate recycling container, and when clearly marked can effectively divert a large portion of material away from the trash can. We hope it helps your event run all the more smoothly.

Recyclable materials commonly generated at Thanksgiving:

  • Empty food cans that held cranberry sauce, canned yams, veggies, or pumpkin pie filling.
  • Empty jars that contained turkey gravy, jelly, or pickles.
  • Empty boxes once filled with stuffing mix, instant mashed potatoes, cornbread mix, or crackers.
  • Empty plastic bottles and containers that held juice, milk, soda, vegetable oil, or peanut butter.

These are only a few of the items that come in recyclable packaging. Please see our informational flyer for a complete listing of materials that are recyclable in most curbside/ single-stream programs.

If you have any questions about a particular item, please give us a call at (309) 452-0064. We’d love to hear from you!

We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!