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Holiday Composting Guide 2025: How to Reduce Wa...
The holidays bring plenty of food, cheer, and …. waste? With all those extra food scraps, packaging, and single-use holiday supplies, household waste increases by roughly 25% between Thanksgiving and...
Holiday Composting Guide 2025: How to Reduce Waste at Christmas & New Year Events
The holidays bring plenty of food, cheer, and …. waste? With all those extra food scraps, packaging, and single-use holiday supplies, household waste increases by roughly 25% between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, per an estimate by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). One of the most effective ways to reduce this seasonal spike in waste? Composting. With a little preparation, you can make composting easy this holiday season, whether you’re organizing a small home gathering, office celebration, or large community event. This guide summarizes what can (and can’t) be composted during holiday meals, how to set up event waste stations that actually work, and the practical tools that households can use to manage organics without the mess or the stink. Key Takeaways Food waste increases by 25%–40% during the holiday season. Most holiday food scraps can be composted with the right method and clear sorting rules. Certified compostables are accepted at commercial facilities — but not always at home. Clear signage dramatically reduces contamination in compost bins. Indoor-friendly organics collector appliances can help families and offices cleanly and efficiently manage food scraps during busy events. Why Holiday Food Waste Spikes — and Why Composting Matters The holidays are often associated with abundance — for better or worse. In November and December, there’s a pronounced increase in over-purchasing, buffet-style serving, and leftover-heavy cooking. This all leads to a lot of extra waste — and most of it goes straight to the trash can, then the landfill. The problem is, when organic waste goes to landfills, it decomposes anaerobically and produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is at least 28 times more potent than CO₂ over a 100-year period.To help reduce your footprint, use the peak waste periods of the holidays to introduce easy composting habits that can persist beyond the season. What You Can (and Can’t) Compost During Holiday Meals Take note of the following lists to guide you through proper composting this holiday season (and beyond): Food Scraps & Decorative Organics You Can Compost at Home Fruit and vegetable peels and scraps (pumpkin pieces, citrus peels, apple cores, etc.) Dried fruits Cinnamon sticks Bread and grains Herbs Rice and pasta Coffee grounds and tea leaves Cookie crumbs Pinecones Natural wreaths (no wire) Kraft paper wrap Items That Require Commercial Composting BPI-certified compostable plates/cups “Compostable” bioplastic utensils Some dairy- and oil-heavy foods Waste Not Compostable at Home Turkey bones and meat scraps (acceptable with the Organics Collector) Glossy paper plates Foil, chip bags Glitter decor Metallic wrapping Plastic ornaments Synthetic ribbons Holiday Composting Reference Table (2025) Item Home Compost Organics Collector / Bokashi Commercial Compost Trash Fruit and veggie peels, scraps Yes Yes Yes No Turkey bones No Yes Sometimes Yes Cheese, gravy No Yes Sometimes Yes Stuffing, casseroles Risky Yes Yes No Uncoated paper plates Yes Yes Yes No Certified compostable cups No No Yes No Foil, plastic wrap No No No Yes Glitter decor No No No Yes Tools That Make Holiday Composting Easier Traditional home compost systems can be difficult to maintain during holiday events because they often get overloaded, attracting odors and potentially pests. Many are located outdoors, making it less convenient to throw away scraps. And most do not accept big food items like meat or dairy. For these reasons, households and offices are opting to use indoor organics collection systems to manage high-volume holiday scraps cleanly and without odor. Organics Collector Appliance Kitchen appliances, such as Clear Drop’s Organics Collector, are designed for odor-free indoor storage of mixed food scraps. They are especially useful during holiday gatherings because they: Suppress smells, even when holding meat, bones, and other rich foods Prevent fruit flies and pests Allow guests to easily sort waste Reduce contamination in compost bins Keep kitchens organized during peak cooking days Using this type of device does not replace composting, though. Instead, it simplifies the first (and often messiest) step — collecting holiday scraps and organics before they are taken outdoors or to a drop-off site. How to Set Up a Holiday Compost Station for the Home, Office, or Events Not sure where to start? Follow the below steps to keep the party going and the waste at bay. 1. Choose the Right Collection System Figure out which type of composting system will work best for you. Choose from options such as: Countertop caddies Outdoor compost bins Municipal green bins (where available) Bokashi systems Organics collector appliances for clean indoor storage Large event composting totes 2. Place Bins in Strategic Positions Think about the natural flow between dishing up, eating, and disposing. Some good locations to place trash and organic waste bins include: Near the buffet or food stations Next to the kitchen island By drink tables Along high-traffic areas 3. Add Clear “YES / NO” Signage Offer clear printed instructions as to what waste goes where. For example YES — food scraps, napkins, paper plates NO — plastic, foil, glitter, coated paper Better yet, include visuals of examples and recruit a volunteer “green lead” to manage waste areas. How to Reduce Food Waste Before & After Your Holiday Event Before the party even starts, plan ahead to avoid too much extra food and waste. Consider the number of guests and: Plan realistic portions Use smaller plates Prepare low-waste recipes Encourage reusable containers for leftovers Freeze portions ahead of time Dealing With Leftovers After the Event You can’t always calculate your food needs exactly, but you can donate, repurpose, freeze, or compost any extras after the event. Donate: The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act protects good-faith food donations. Most communities offer at least a few places where you can donate food. Repurpose: Be creative and use any leftover food or ingredients to make new dishes like soups, casseroles, grain bowls, or frittatas. Freeze: Bigger items such as meat, roasted vegetables, baked goods, stuffings, and breads freeze well and can come in handy for later. Compost: Of what remains, make sure to compost it either at home or through a community program. Sustainable Holidays Start With Small Changes Small, repeated behaviors during the holidays and other peak waste seasons can help build long-term waste-reduction routines. As cities continue to expand food-waste programs, households across the country are adopting composting habits and taking advantage of indoor-friendly compost solutions like Clear Drop’s Organics Collector. Whether you host a small dinner or a large office celebration, a well-planned compost system, supported by clear signage and simple indoor tools, can dramatically reduce your holiday waste footprint.
How Much Food Americans Waste and What You Can Do
Key Takeaways Americans waste 30%-40% of their total food supply each year (USDA, 2024). In 2019, the U.S. generated 66 million tons of wasted food, with more than half ending...
How Much Food Americans Waste and What You Can Do
Key Takeaways Americans waste 30%-40% of their total food supply each year (USDA, 2024). In 2019, the U.S. generated 66 million tons of wasted food, with more than half ending up in landfills. (EPA, 2023). The average household loses ≈ $1,500 per year on food that is never eaten(NRDC, 2022). Food waste produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is 28x more potent than CO₂ (EPA, 2024). ClearDrop’s Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) and Organics Collector (OC) help reduce food waste and food-related soft plastics — one household at a time. Millions of tons of perfectly edible food are thrown away in the United States every year. Add to that all the water, land, fertilizer, energy, and packaging required to produce it. When wasted food ends up in landfills, it decomposes and releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The good news is that small, consistent changes at home can make a meaningful impact. Every household can reduce its environmental footprint with helpful tools, such as Clear Drop’s Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) for responsible soft plastic recycling, and the Organics Collector (OC) for clean food-scrap collection. The Scale of Food Waste in America According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans waste up to 40% of their total food supply annually (USDA, 2024). To break this down even more, in 2019, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that: U.S. households and retailers generated 66 million tons of food waste. 35 million tons of food waste were landfilled. Food became the largest single category of landfill material(EPA, 2023). What Americans Waste Most Tempted by bulk deals and other discounted offers, Americans tend to overbuy at the grocery store, ending up with rotting produce and expired foods, including: Fruits and vegetables Dairy Baked goods Leftovers Prepared meals Remember that nearly all of these products come packaged in soft plastics, such as produce bags, bread bags, cereal liners, frozen-food bags, snack wrappers, and cling film. To save on waste, these materials can be compacted and recycled using the Clear Drop SPC. Environmental Impact When food ends up in landfills, it decomposes and generates methane, a gas that is 28x more potent than CO₂ (EPA, 2024). Wasted food also wastes: 21% of all U.S. freshwater used in agriculture (WWF, 2023) 18% of U.S. cropland (Feeding America, 2023) Billions of units of packaging materials Significant transport and refrigeration energy There are two easy ways you can lower your food waste footprint to help reduce these numbers: Clear Drop’s OC allows you to cleanly collect food scraps so they don’t end up in landfills. Clear Drop’s SPC allows you to effectively recycle soft-plastic packaging to be repurposed instead of tossed out. Common Reasons Food Gets Wasted at Home A lack of planning and preparation often lead to extra food and packaging waste. Cause: Overbuying and poor planningSolution: Create weekly meal plans and shop with a list. Cause: Expiration date confusionSolution: Understand “best by,” “use by,” and “sell by” labels (EPA Food Labeling Education). Cause: Improper storageSolution: Use airtight containers and humidity-controlled fridge drawers to keep food fresher longer. Cause: Forgotten leftoversSolution: Store leftovers in clear containers and rotate regularly. Cause: Packaging accumulationSolution: Rinse, dry, and compact food-related soft plastics using the SPC. Why Reducing Food Waste Matters Reducing food waste has wide-reaching benefits: Lowers emissions Less food in landfills = less methane released = a measurable climate benefit. Decreases packaging waste When you toss out food, you’re also tossing out its packaging, such as: Produce bags Bread bags Shrink wrap Snack wrappers Frozen-food bags Cling film When you have an SPC, you can reduce this extra waste by easily compacting and recycling it. Supports sustainable living Clear Drop’s mission is to help households reduce waste in all forms, starting with food scraps and soft plastics. Read more about our mission and products in our educational guides. Simple Ways To Reduce Food Waste Build meal plans and shopping lists to prevent overbuying. Store food properly to extend freshness. Learn date-label meanings before discarding food. Freeze leftovers to prevent spoilage. Reuse vegetable scraps or collect them for further composting via the Organics Collector. Keep products visible in your fridge and cabinets with clear labeling. Recycle all soft-plastic food packaging using the SPC. How Clear Drop Supports Sustainable Living Clear Drop provides practical tools for reducing household waste, including our: Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) With the SPC, ensure every bread bag, produce bag, snack wrapper, cling film, cereal liner, and frozen-food bag gets properly recycled. Organics Collector (OC) With the OC, collect your food scraps without the fuss, mess, or smells. Clear Drop Blog With the Clear Drop Blog, learn more about how to reduce your food and plastic waste and build a cleaner, more sustainable lifestyle. Be a Leader in Better Waste Management Reduce food waste, recycle smarter, and build a sustainable home with Clear Drop’s: Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) to reduce soft-plastic waste Organics Collector (OC) to compost cleanly and effectively Educational Blog to learn more about how to live a ZeroTrash lifestyle Explore the full ClearDrop system at https://onecleardrop.com.
How the Shaw Institute Successfully Started to ...
The Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, Maine, is a respected nonprofit research organization studying the impact of contaminants, including PFAS chemicals and microplastics — on human and environmental health. Their...
How the Shaw Institute Successfully Started to Recycle Laboratory Soft Plastic Waste for the First Time with SPC
The Shaw Institute in Blue Hill, Maine, is a respected nonprofit research organization studying the impact of contaminants, including PFAS chemicals and microplastics — on human and environmental health. Their work is regularly published in leading scientific journals and covered by international media. The institute also operates an Environmental Education Center (EEC) featuring aquariums, marine mammal skeletons, and hands-on ocean exploration exhibits. Like most laboratories, the Shaw Institute generates significant quantities of clean polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) soft plastic waste from daily research operations — including packaging from lab tools, sampling supplies, and delivery materials. According to the U.S. EPA, most municipal programs do not accept soft plastics, meaning nearly all of this material historically went to landfills. To address this challenge, the Shaw Institute became one of the first research laboratories in the U.S. to pilot the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) — an on-site, lab-friendly solution designed specifically for soft plastic recycling. UNEP research highlights how important innovations like this are for managing flexible plastics responsibly. Why the Shaw Institute Chose the Clear Drop SPC Before implementing the SPC, staff had no practical way to recycle common laboratory soft plastics, including: polyethylene baggies and protective films bubble wrap and cushioning packaging sterile wrap and supply pouches other clean PE and PP packaging from lab operations “We were looking for proven technology that could help us deal with the soft plastic problem in our lab and beyond,” explains Dr. Charlie Rolsky, Executive Director and Lead Research Scientist. “We're excited to pilot Clear Drop’s SPC device as part of our 2025 internal sustainability efforts. It offers a much-needed solution for improving our ability to recycle the soft plastic waste generated by our lab work.” The Clear Drop SPC was selected because it: compresses clean soft plastics into dense, stackable blocks ready for certified recyclers requires minimal space and no heat or chemicals works precisely with PE and PP waste produced in labs supports the institute’s mission to reduce plastic pollution and “practice what they preach” A detailed technical explanation of the device’s operation is available here. Implementation and First-Month Results The SPC was installed directly inside the laboratory — the primary source of soft plastic waste. Staff received training on cleaning, sorting, and feeding materials into the compactor. The installation required no facility modifications and integrated smoothly into daily workflows. In the first month alone: 6 dense blocks of clean soft plastic waste were compacted and prepared for recycling 5 staff members plus several volunteers became regular SPC users The device operated safely and consistently in an active research environment The SPC quickly became an effective tool for reducing landfill-bound laboratory plastics and improving internal sustainability practices. Expansion Beyond the Lab Although the initial goal was laboratory waste reduction, the pilot expanded naturally as staff recognized the device’s capabilities: Soft plastics from the Environmental Education Center (EEC) are now collected and processed Employees began bringing clean PE/PP soft plastics from home Once per week, the SPC is moved to a public EEC exhibit, where visitors can observe the compression process and learn about soft plastic circularity This turned the SPC into both a practical waste-management device and a hands-on educational resource, supporting the institute’s public outreach mission. Early Community Interest (Next-Phase Potential) Building on the success of the internal pilot, the Shaw Institute is now exploring the idea of serving as a temporary community drop-off point where local residents can bring clean soft plastics for guaranteed recycling. While still in planning, this potential expansion aligns naturally with visitor engagement and mirrors other pilot models implemented by Clear Drop. Key Benefits Realized by the Shaw Institute First-ever ability to recycle laboratory soft plastic waste on-site Significant progress toward near-zero-waste lab and facility operations Strong alignment between the institute’s research mission and daily sustainability practices A new educational tool demonstrating real-world soft plastic recycling Proven, low-maintenance technology suitable for research organizations of any size The Shaw Institute pilot demonstrates that even small scientific institutions can successfully implement soft plastic recycling programs with the right equipment. For laboratories seeking a reliable, lab-safe, ready-to-deploy solution, the Clear Drop SPC offers measurable results and immediate environmental impact. Explore the SPC here.
10 Soft Plastics You Didn’t Know You Could Recy...
Key Takeaways Only 1% of U.S. households have access to curbside film recycling. Home devices like the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) fill that gap. Soft plastics make up...
10 Soft Plastics You Didn’t Know You Could Recycle at Home
Key Takeaways Only 1% of U.S. households have access to curbside film recycling. Home devices like the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) fill that gap. Soft plastics make up ≈ 21% of the U.S. packaging market, yet only about 13% of all plastic packaging gets recycled nationally. Recycling soft films can reduce GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 8%–23% compared to virgin plastic (made from previously unused materials, such as natural gas or crude oil). Every ton of recycled plastics saves ≈ 5,800 kWh of energy and 1.7 metric tons of CO₂ emissions. No matter how diligent you are with recycling, the truth is, most plastics labeled “recyclable” still end up in landfills. Curbside systems in the U.S. aren’t designed for soft films and flexible packaging, meaning these materials often get rejected. In fact, only 1% of U.S. households can currently recycle film plastics through local collection (The Recycling Partnership, 2021). That’s where the Clear Drop Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) fills a necessary gap. The SPC is a simple home device that lets you collect and compact soft plastics so they can be properly recycled through certified partners. Why Soft Plastic Recycling Matters Many of us amass quite a few soft plastics on the daily, including bags, wrappers, and packaging. These plastics are typically lightweight and flexible — qualities that make them useful but hard to process in traditional MRFs (material recovery facilities). Nationally, the plastic packaging recycling rate is 13.3%, with soft plastics representing only a small part of it, according to the U.S. Plastics Pact 2023–24 Impact Report (US Plastics Pact, 2024). Soft plastics account for ≈ 21% of U.S. packaging sales (≈ $41.5 billion per year) (Packaging Digest, 2023). To reach just a 30% film recycling rate, the country must recover 3.1 billion pounds of it per year (The Recycling Partnership, 2021). Recycling flexible plastics cuts GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions by 8%–23% compared to producing new plastic (Plastic Film Recycling Org). In 2025, North American recyclers processed 4.2 million tons of post-consumer plastic — just 13% of the total PE/PET/PP consumed (Sustainable Packaging Coalition, 2025). Clearly, there’s plenty of room for improvement — and it can start one home at a time: with the Clear Drop SPC. 10 Surprising Soft Plastics You Can Recycle All of the following items are often rejected by most curbside systems but can be accepted by the Clear Drop SPC, once cleaned and dried: 1. Ziplock bags Simply rinse, dry, and add to the SPC. 2. Bread bags (typically LDPE #4) Empty, shake out crumbs, and dry completely before compacting. 3. Cereal box liners Separate the inner film liner, dry it, and add to your SPC. 4. Frozen food bags After use, defrost, rinse off residue, dry, and add to the SPC. 5. Bubble mailers Plastic-only mailers (without paper layers) can be deflated and compacted. 6. Snack wrappers Single-layer poly wrappers (e.g., granola bars) are fine to add to the SPC, just avoid any with metallic film. 7. Produce wrap Most cling film from fruit and veggie trays is LDPE, meaning you can rinse, dry, and compact it. 8. Pet food bags Clean out oily residue from PP (polypropylene) bags, dry, and compact. 9. Dry cleaning bags Remove tags or tape, dry, and feed into the SPC. 10. Packaging air pillows Deflate, flatten, and compact these LDPE shipping cushions. When compacted, all of the above films become part of your SPC block, a dense, clean unit ready for recycling. How to Prepare Soft Plastics for SPC Recycling Follow these quick steps to ready your soft plastics for the SPC: Clean: Rinse off all food or oil. Dry: Air-dry thoroughly. Compact: Insert the plastic into your SPC. Ship or Drop Off: Send your full soft-plastic block to a Clear Drop partner. Do: Rinse and dry plastics, remove labels, keep items light.Don’t: Include wet, dirty, or foil-lined film. What Happens After Collection: The SPC Recycling Process Here’s what happens to your plastic after you ship your SPC block: Transport & Inspection: SPC blocks go to certified U.S. partners, such as Frankfort Plastics in Indiana. Sorting & Shredding: Plastics are sorted and granulated. Cleaning & Pelletizing: Flakes are washed and melted into new resin. Reuse: Resin becomes new, durable construction products, such as outdoor furniture, or decking/composite pallets. According to the EPA, recycling one ton of plastics saves ≈ 5,800 kWh of energy and prevents 1.7 metric tons of CO₂ emissions (EPA 2024). By using the SPC, you help turn “hard-to-recycle” films into feedstock for new products, closing the loop and supporting a more circular economy. The Clear Drop SPC in Numbers Metric U.S. Statistic Source Soft-plastic share of packaging ≈ 21% ($41.5 billion market) Packaging Digest 2023 National plastic-packaging recycling rate 13.3% US Plastics Pact 2024 Households with film recycling access ≈ 1% The Recycling Partnership 2021 Goal for 30% film recycling 3.1 billion pounds needed annually The Recycling Partnership 2021 GHG savings from film recycling 8%–23% Plastic Film Recycling Org Plastic recycled in North America (2025) 4.2 million tons (≈ 13% of PE/PET/PP) Sustainable Packaging Coalition 2025 Be a Leader in Better Recycling Ready to go zero-waste at home? Recycle more than you thought possible with the Clear Drop SPC, and cleanly collect your food scraps with our Organics Collector. Discover Clear Drop’s full range of at-home recycling and composting solutions at onecleardrop.com.
How Clear Drop’s Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) R...
At Clear Drop, we’re redefining what responsible soft plastic recycling looks like.Our Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) ensures that your household soft plastics don’t just get collected, they get truly recycled into...
How Clear Drop’s Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) Recycling System Works | Clear Drop
At Clear Drop, we’re redefining what responsible soft plastic recycling looks like.Our Soft Plastic Compactor (SPC) ensures that your household soft plastics don’t just get collected, they get truly recycled into new, long-lasting materials through certified U.S. partners. Where the waste goes after the SPC Every SPC block you send represents real impact.Once compacted, your soft plastics are shipped to verified recycling partners like Frankfort Plastics (Indiana), specialists in processing post-consumer soft plastics into high-quality, reusable raw materials. Transparency is at the core of Clear Drop’s mission.You deserve to know where your waste goes and what it becomes after leaving your home. How Clear Drop recycling system works Our process is simple, traceable, and circular, designed for convenience and accountability. Receive your mailers.Each quarter, you’ll receive a set of three prepaid SPC mailers with shipping labels. Send your compacted block.Once your block is full, place it in a mailer, attach the prepaid label, and seal it. Drop it off or schedule pickup.Leave your package for USPS pickup or drop it at any nearby post office. We take it from there.Your block is delivered to a certified facility, where it’s sorted, shredded, and transformed into recycled soft plastic for new products. Watch the full ClearDrop SPC recycling process on YouTube to see how your soft plastics are compacted, shipped, and transformed into new materials. What the waste becomes after it’s recycled Your compacted plastics begin a new, sustainable life. After processing, the recycled SPC material is used in: Durable construction products Outdoor furniture and decking Composite panels and industrial components Each block you send helps reduce landfill waste, prevent microplastic pollution, and support circular manufacturing. Our recycling partners We carefully select and audit our U.S. partners to ensure full accountability and compliance with national recycling standards. Current verified partner: Frankfort Plastics — Indiana, USA (post-consumer soft plastic recycling) We’re expanding our network with additional regional facilities planned for 2026, ensuring shorter logistics chains and a lower carbon footprint. Why Clear Drop matters for sustainable waste management Most soft plastics never get recycled - they break down into microplastics and contaminate soil, water, and air. With Clear Drop’s SPC system, you’re helping: Prevent plastic fragmentation Cut greenhouse gas emissions Promote transparent recycling across the U.S. Together, we’re building a clear, closed-loop recycling model — one SPC block at a time. 1 year of using SPC
