Composting Your Thanksgiving Leftovers with a HOTBIN
Thanksgiving is all about gathering, gratitude, and… a lot of food. Once the holiday is over, many of us are left with overflowing plates, scraps, and leftovers that may not make it to the next day’s meal. Instead of tossing these food remnants into the trash, Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to turn them into something useful: nutrient-rich compost.
With a HOTBIN composter, the process is fast, easy, and clean — even during cooler fall temperatures.
Why Compost Thanksgiving Leftovers?
Food waste makes up a large part of household trash, and when it ends up in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting is one of the simplest ways to reduce your environmental footprint while creating a valuable soil amendment for your garden.
What Can Go Into the HOTBIN After Thanksgiving?
The HOTBIN can handle a wide range of cooked and uncooked food, making it ideal for holiday scraps. You can safely add:
- Turkey bones (broken into smaller pieces), skin, and leftovers
- Vegetable trimmings, peels, and spoiled produce
- Stuffing, bread, and rolls
- Cranberry sauce
- Gravy and small amounts of fat
- Pie scraps and spoiled desserts
- Coffee grounds, tea bags, and paper napkins
Just remember the HOTBIN rule: pair every addition of food waste with shredded paper and bulking agent (mulch/wood chips) to maintain airflow and prevent soggy material.
Getting the Mix Right
Thanksgiving leftovers tend to be rich, moist, and dense — ideal fuel for HOT composting, but only when balanced. For every bowl of food waste you add, include:
- A few handfuls of shredded paper
- A cup or two of bulking agent
Mix lightly, close the lid, and let the HOTBIN get to work. Within hours, bacteria start breaking down the material, and temperatures can rise well above 120–140°F, even in cold weather.
Tips for Post-Holiday Success
- Feed the HOTBIN in batches over a couple of days instead of dumping everything at once.
- Chop large items (like bones or dense leftovers) to speed decomposition.
- Avoid bags or containers with plastic coatings, unless they are certified compostable.
- Keep feeding 2–3 times a week to maintain temperature.
The Result?
In just 30–90 days, your Thanksgiving scraps turn into dark, crumbly compost that can enrich garden beds, potted plants, or spring seedlings. It’s a simple way to close the loop on your holiday meal — and it feels good to know nothing went to waste.
Keep the momentum going—add your leftovers, mix in paper and mulch, and let the HOTBIN do the work. Start composting today and make this Thanksgiving a zero-waste celebration. To buy yours today visit this website.
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