COLUMBUS, Ohio — When Spectrum News 1 first introduced you to Kim Gajda, she was getting ready to host Thanksgiving. Four weeks later, it was rinse and repeat.

What You Need To Know

  • Experts say food waste increases during the holiday season because of the larger amounts of food prepared for holiday dinners and parties 

  • The Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio says food waste is not only a sustainability issue but also an economic one

  • Tips to reduce food waste this holiday season are to donate your leftovers, get creative with your leftovers or composting it instead of throwing it away

“We had a big Christmas dinner," Kim Gajda said. "We basically do Thanksgiving 2.0, turkey, ham, all the side fixings, traditional foods that we usually have."

But with any big, delicious meal comes the inevitable: a lot of holiday leftovers.

“A few less people in the house for Christmas than for Thanksgiving, but we still had a big crowd," Gajda said. "Have more leftovers this time. But we also sent a lot of leftovers home with the guest. And we have enough here to eat maybe two more meals. So that way we'll have plenty of time to do that within our allotted period."

Hanna Greer-Brown from the Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio said the increase in food waste during the holiday season is mainly because of the increase in food for hosting holiday dinners and events.

“If you think about all the activities you might be participating in, including like baking more than you usually do or entertaining more hosting a larger sit down dinner than what you're used to," Greer-Brown said. "All of those things can lead to an increase in the amount of waste and in particular the amount of food waste that's generated."

She said food waste isn’t just a sustainability issue but also an economic one.

“Here in central Ohio, about 1,000,000 pounds of food arrives at the landfill every single day," Greer-Brown said. "And when you look at that over the course of a year, that's equivalent to an average family of four spending thousands of dollars on food that they never eat, they just simply throw away."

During the holiday season, SWACO hosts its “Save more than food” initiative. Its goal is to get Ohioans to think proactively about what they do with food waste. Everything from donating it to foodbanks, composting it instead of throwing it in the trash, and getting creative with leftovers, tips that Gajda says she will incorporate this holiday season. 

“I plan to serve a few more meals and a little more creative ways," Gajda said. "Maybe some turkey casserole, hot turkey sandwiches. And if there's any leftover by Sunday, I'll probably freeze it, because by then, everyone will be a little bit tired of turkey."

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