After the Thanksgiving feast comes the equally legendary aftermath, which includes mountains of leftovers, scraps, and food bits that pile up quickly. While many families enjoy days of turkey sandwiches, reheated sides, and creative leftover recipes, there always comes a point when certain items simply need to be discarded. Instead of tossing everything into the trash, this post-holiday cleanup is a perfect opportunity to practice more sustainable habits. By composting what you can and responsibly trashing what you can’t, you reduce waste, enrich soil, and make your cleanup more eco-friendly.
Compostable Thanksgiving Leftovers
The good news is that a large portion of Thanksgiving scraps can be composted. These items break down naturally and help create nutrient-rich soil.
- Fruit and Vegetable Scraps
Peelings from potatoes, carrots, apples, squash, and sweet potatoes are perfect for composting. Corn cobs, green bean ends, celery scraps, and onion skins can also go straight into your compost bin. Even the remains of salad greens or leftover roasted vegetables without heavy oils or sauces can be added safely. - Bread and Rolls
Stale bread, rolls, or cornbread (without excessive butter or additives) can be composted. Bread breaks down relatively quickly, though it’s best to tear it into smaller pieces to speed up the process. - Coffee Grounds and Tea Bags
After dessert, many households brew a fresh pot of coffee or tea. Coffee grounds, paper coffee filters, and most plain tea bags are compost-friendly. Just make sure the tea bags don’t contain synthetic mesh. - Eggshells
Whether you used eggs for baking pies, casseroles, or breakfast the next day, you can crush the shells and add them to your compost. They provide calcium and help balance the compost’s nutrient profile. - Plain Rice and Pasta
Small amounts of plain, unseasoned rice or pasta can be composted. If it’s heavily sauced, salty, or oily, it’s best to toss it in the trash instead. - Turkey Bones and Carcass? Not in Backyard Composting
While bones are technically biodegradable, they should not be placed in a traditional backyard compost pile because they take a long time to break down and can attract wildlife. Some commercial composting facilities do accept them, but always check first.
Leftovers That Should Go in the Trash
Some Thanksgiving items simply don’t belong in compost, especially if you compost at home.
- Meat, Poultry, and Fish
Turkey scraps, skin, fat, and gravy should stay out of backyard compost bins. They decompose slowly, smell unpleasant, and attract pests like raccoons, rats, and insects. - Dairy-Based Foods
Mashed potatoes made with butter, creamy casseroles, cheese-based dishes, and dairy desserts should be discarded. Milk- and cream-based ingredients can create foul odors and disrupt compost balance. - Oily or Greasy Foods
Foods soaked in butter, oil, or grease including stuffing with drippings, fried foods, or heavily seasoned dishes do not compost well. Oils coat organic materials and slow the decomposition process. - Sugary Desserts
While fruit pie fillings may compost, whole slices of pie, cookies, cakes, and sugary sauces are not ideal for composting. They attract pests and can imbalance the compost mixture. - Packaging and Foil
Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, coated paper plates, and plastic utensils should go directly in the trash unless recyclability is confirmed.
A Greener Post-Holiday Cleanup
By separating compostable and non-compostable leftovers, you not only reduce landfill waste but also give back to the environment with nutrient-rich compost. This Thanksgiving, enjoy your feast and feel good about how you clean it up afterward.
We encourage responsible waste management with local garbage collection. Make sure to contact AAA Sanitation & Garbage Removal today to be your premier sanitation service provider in and around Athens, GA.
AAA Sanitation & Garbage Removal
79 Business Dr Ste A
Hull, GA 30646
(706) 543-7788
https://aaasanitationco.com/
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