Eat, Save, and Be Merry: Reducing Holiday Food Waste
By Bri Cencak | October 30, 2024
With the holiday season just around the corner, many of us are planning festive meals to share with friends and loved ones. The abundance of large dishes and special treats often exceeds what we normally consume. Unfortunately, this often results in excess food being thrown out, eventually ending up in landfills.
Food waste isn't just a missed opportunity to feed others; it’s also a significant environmental concern. When food decomposes in landfills, it emits methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide. The resources used to grow, transport, and store that food—like water, energy, and land—are all wasted.
Did you know that food waste accounts for about 30-40% of the food supply in the United States? In our local community, roughly 80% of solid waste in the Summit County landfill could be diverted, with 40-60% of that being food waste.
Park City has committed to changing those statistics. As part of its Zero Food Waste initiative, Park City Community Foundation has partnered with Momentum Recycling to offer curbside food waste collection for anyone living in the 84060 and 84098 zip codes. This program is easier to use than trying to remember your grandma’s casserole recipe! Unlike traditional composting, all types of food waste are accepted—fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, prepared foods, and even fats, oils, and grease.
Residents who want to help Park City reach its Zero Food Waste goal by 2030 can easily sign up! Learn more about the Zero Food Waste efforts and to register here for curbside collection. For every 10 signups, Swaner will receive a grant from PCCF. Use the code SWANER5 for a 5-gallon bucket or SWANER16 for a 16-gallon bucket to support us! The codes are valid until December 31, 2024.
As you prepare for the upcoming holidays, use these tips to help keep food waste to a minimum:
- Plan Your Meals Wisely: Get a final headcount of who will be joining before shopping and cooking. Prepare only what you need by calculating servings and portions.
- Get Creative with Leftovers: Reinvent your leftovers into new dishes! Leftover turkey can be turned into sandwiches, vegetables can be added into breakfast omelets, and miscellaneous snacks can be turned into the perfect game day companion.
- Share the Feast: If you end up with too much food, share with your neighbors, coworkers, or donate to local food banks to help those in need! Encourage guests to bring containers so they can bring home a variety of leftovers.
- Freeze It: Many holiday foods freeze well. Store leftovers in freezer-safe containers for easy meals later on.

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