Holiday Waste & Consumerism
Approximately how many pounds of candy are purchased in the US just for Halloween, most of whose wrappers end up in landfills or as pollution?
Answer: Approximately 600 million pounds
What term describes the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by producing, processing, and transporting the food we eat?
Answer: Food carbon footprint
True or False: Microplastics can easily be recycled in standard curb-side recycling bins.
FALSE!
What is the term for the circular economic model that aims to eliminate waste and continually reuse resources?
Circular Economy
What environmental hazard occurs when landfills become overly filled during the holidays?
Answer: Trash can seep into waterways or be carried by the wind to spread pollution
What is the primary reason beef has a significantly higher carbon footprint compared to poultry or plant-based proteins?
Cattle require substantial land and feed, and produce high methane emissions during digestion.
Name two eco-friendly packaging alternatives to plastic recommended for grocery shopping.
Answer: Glass jars, cardboard, or paper packaging
Question: Which renewable energy source captures kinetic energy from natural air flows to generate electricity?
Wind energy (Wind turbines)
What is considered the single biggest food waste problem during Thanksgiving, accounting for an estimated 300 million pounds?
Answer: Food waste (specifically turkey and holiday meal leftovers)
Question: Why does choosing local and seasonal produce help lower greenhouse gas emissions?
It reduces the distance food has to travel (transportation emissions)
Question: What simple habit can you adopt when purchasing beverages to cut down on single-use plastic bottles?
Avoid bottled water and bring your own reusable containers/water bottles
What percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions is estimated to come from food loss and food waste globally?
Approximately 8–10%
Question: When organic food waste decomposes in landfills without oxygen, what potent greenhouse gas does it release?
Answer: Methane gas
Which plant-based milk options usually have the lowest overall environmental impact?
Answer: Oat milk and soy milk
What three-step hierarchy phrase encourages individuals to minimize their environmental impact before recycling?
Answer: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
What eco-friendly household process converts organic kitchen scraps into nutrient-rich soil enhancement?
Answer: Composting
Aside from food waste, what are two other major sources of waste generated during Thanksgiving mentioned in the presentation?
Answer: Plastic decorations, single-use items (like plastic/disposable plates and cups), and packaging trash
Switching your protein source from beef to chicken can cut your dietary carbon emissions by up to what percentage?
Answer: Up to 80%
What type of organizations collect edible surplus food from businesses and holiday events to distribute to those in need?
Answer: Food recovery programs / organizations
Question: What is the main cause of ocean acidification, which threatens marine ecosystems worldwide?
The absorption of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) into ocean waters.