(EDITOR'S NOTE: This is another in a series of recycling tips from the City of Covington's Neighborhood Services Department, Solid Waste & Recycling Division.)

Thanksgiving is all about a savory dinner, time with family and friends, and – of course – giving thanks. But as with most holidays, celebrating can create a lot of waste. Here’s how to make your Thanksgiving a little greener so the planet can be a little more thankful.

• Dishpan hands: Most people hate doing dishes. But you can save a lot of landfill space by using “real” plates, cups and silverware and cloth napkins instead of disposable paper or foam plates, plastic cups and paper napkins.
• Scraps and leavings: Whether you’re peeling potatoes and cutting off celery tops ahead of dinner, or scraping plates after, there’s a lot of food waste. Rather than filling your trash can, compost those vegetable scraps or give them to a neighbor who does.
• Leftovers: If your dinner host sends leftovers home, come prepared with plastic containers, rather than using plastic bags that get thrown right in the trash.
• Shop local (and organic): Reduce emissions from delivery vehicles and eliminate the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers by buying close to home and going organic (see the Covington Farmers Market!)
• “Adopt”: And if you’re really serious about going green, try adopting a turkey from Farm Sanctuary and opting for a – gasp! – meat-less dinner. Raising a 16-lb. turkey for the table produces 34.2 pounds of CO2 emissions (that’s a mighty big carbon footprint).