Sustainable Restaurants and Foodservice operations

 

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

 
In the U.S., we throw away enough trash to fill 63,000 garbage trucks each and every day.[1]As much as three-fourths of that waste is either recyclable or compostable. Due to the nature of the industry, foodservice generates a lot of this garbage. Fifty to seventy-five percent of restaurant and foodservice trash consists of compostable food items—the remainder is mostly food packaging.[2]

There are many ways to reduce the amount of waste generated in the foodservice industry. Whether to green your operation or reduce disposal fees, these tips on running sustainable restaurants and foodservice operations can help:

Sustainable Foodservice Tips

 
    · Reduce:  The over-purchase of food and associated fees for waste disposal, labor and energy, cost the foodservice industry upwards of $100 billion each year. Conducting a waste audit by adjusting purchasing and disposal practices based on your findings can help.[3] Learn more about conducting a waste audit here.
 
    · Reuse/Repurpose: Repurposing leftovers in menu items can be a great way to use excess food. As can donating extra food to soup kitchens, food banks or shelters. Some food waste can even be diverted to feed farm or zoo animals. Your local agricultural or county health departments may be able to help.[4] Check with your accountant to see if food donations are tax deductible.    
 
    · Recycle: Much of foodservice packaging is recyclable. Paper, metal, plastic and glass containers can be recycled in most areas. Some sites even take plastic wrap, cork and Styrofoam®. Discover collection sites in your area country and find out what they accept, here.
Buying recycled can help reduce your carbon footprint, too. Our Earth Wise Tree Free® plates, containers and cutlery are both recycled and compostable. We also have a complete line of recycled napkins and guest towels.
 
    · Rethink: Rethinking the way you operate your foodservice establishment may not only reduce waste, but cost, too. For example, the trayless cafeteria movement, which is growing across college campuses, actually reduces the amount of food students take. This development has helped lower food waste by 35 percent. Plus, the decrease in dirty dishes has helped save millions of gallons of water and chemicals, plus labor costs.[5]

There are many ways you can reduce the amount of waste your restaurant or foodservice operation makes. Try one or more of these tips to reduce costs or the amount of garbage that goes in the landfill. It’s a savings, for all!

 
 
These Earth Wise Tree Free® products are Compostable and made from Renewable Resources
 
·  Tableware
 
·  Cutlery
 
 
 
Green your operation with our complete line of Recycled Products
 
·   Napkins
 
·   Guest towels 
·   Placemats
 
 
 

[1] "TRASH TRIVIA." Major Waste Disposal. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2016. .

[2] "Restaurant Waste Reduction." Sustainable Foodservice: Waste Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2016. .

[3] Toolkit: Reducing the Food Wastage Footprint. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Epa.gov. Web. 7 May 2016. .

[4] Toolkit: Reducing the Food Wastage Footprint. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Epa.gov. Web. 7 May 2016. .

[5] "Restaurant Waste Reduction." Sustainable Foodservice: Waste Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 May 2016. .

 

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