Food waste is one of the most common waste types in the workplace. In an office environment, hundreds or even thousands of employees consume snacks, lunch, and even breakfast or dinner throughout the day. Inevitably, these meals produce all kinds of waste. For the sake of this article, we will be talking about the food waste itself and not the associated packaging.
At Sydney City Rubbish, we deal with all kinds of rubbish and junk. We work with businesses on a regular basis, removing all kinds of office waste, commercial rubbish and much more. We also remove large amounts of food waste from events and commercial businesses… and the amount of waste is significant.
It’s important that businesses in all industries do what they can to reduce food waste in the workplace. In this article, we will be focusing primarily on offices. However, these tips to reduce food waste can be applied to all sorts of workplaces.
Compost your organic waste
When it comes to organic waste, composting is a great way to reduce waste and turn it into reusable matter. A number of offices now have compost bins in their kitchens. The compostable matter is then removed and taken to a composting facility.
Smaller offices and workplaces can also run their own composting program, particularly if they have a garden where the compost can be utilised. This is a wonderful way to create a closed circle for food waste. However, it is important to remember that not all food waste is compostable. Meats, bones, and other material should not be placed in a compost bin.
Encourage employees to think about portion size
We’re all guilty of cooking too much food sometimes. This often leads to throwing out leftovers, because we just can’t eat them in time. But it is important for employees to think about portion size. This helps reduce food waste by only making the right amount of food, and not over-producing. That’s applicable both at home and in the workplace.
Make use of technology
There are a number of apps out there designed to help homes and businesses keep track of their food waste. The ultimate goal is, of course, to reduce this food waste. Applications can help you keep track of your food waste, and even tell you what can be composted and what can’t. Some can even help you reduce waste by suggesting portions and recipes. One particularly handy food waste fighting app is Olio.
Discuss your needs with corporate catering
If you are catering for a large event or meeting, make sure the figures are right. There’s nothing worse than the party or event ending, only to find a heap of food leftover. And chances are this food will be going straight into the bin. No one wants to look cheap when hosting a corporate event, but you don’t need to over-cater to look good. Discuss this with your catering company and ensure that you have the right amount of food for your event.
Promote leftovers
Bringing leftovers from home is a fantastic way to combat food waste. It keeps last night’s meal away from the bin, and it prevents you and your employees from purchasing lunch, thereby saving money. For employees, it’s a great way to save money, create more space in their fridge at home, and prevent food waste. It’s one of the most simple tips to reduce food waste there is!
Keep waste in mind when preparing food at home
Cooking work lunches at home is a great way to save money and prevent waste. Paying careful attention to the size of your meals is always important when it comes to keeping food out of the bin. At home, you have the ability to plan out your meals, perhaps using online recipes or a cookbook. Making the right decisions here will save plenty of food waste in the workplace.
Work with a food waste removal company
A food waste removal company can help remove and reduce the organic waste that your business produces. At Sydney City Rubbish, we remove food waste from all kinds of businesses and event locations. It doesn’t matter how large the volume of food waste, we can remove and transport that waste to the appropriate location.
Form partnerships with local cafes and restaurants
Many commercial buildings contain a cafes or even food courts. Employees will inevitably buy their lunches from these establishments on a regular basis. Therefore, there are plenty of benefits to building relationships with these vendors, with the aim of reducing food waste. That might include a shared composting program, or some kind of menu adjustment that allows for adjusted portions.
Use less water where possible
Saving water is important for so many reasons. Water is an important component of cooking most food types and therefore, when food is wasted, water is also wasted. We can prevent water wastage by using eco-friendly taps and filters, and cooking smaller portions of food, that then use less water.
Create a waste log
A waste log is an excellent tool to use in the fight against food waste. It can help you and your employees keep track of how much food is being wasted in your workplace. Once you get a better idea of how much there is, and what kinds of food are being wasted, you can come up with a more efficient plan of attack for reducing that waste.
Commercial food waste removal in Sydney
Looking to reduce food waste in the workplace, or remove large volumes of food waste from your workplace or event? We’re here to help. Click the buttons below to get in touch with Sydney City Rubbish today.
