From Guest Blogger James Timpton: Managing your Food Waste the Eco-Way

Whether we want to improve the waste management procedures we have in place in our businesses or whether we want to make changes at home there is much we can do to eliminate food waste.

Managing Food Waste at Work

If you are looking for a full breakdown of waste management steps you can take at work Macair offers valuable environmental advice for businesses. This highlights not just legislation but practical steps you can take to make your business more eco-friendly.

Don’t Over Order

When it comes to food waste at work there are several areas to consider. First you should look at the amount of waste you currently produce and try to reduce it as much as possible. If you often book catering for internal or external meetings try to be as accurate as possible about how much food you need and don’t over order. Any food left over should be offered to staff. There is no point throwing food away when this could be used for staff lunches. In the same way, if you regularly offer staff perks such as free fruit or healthy snacks then make sure it is all getting eaten and reduce the amount you order if any is going to waste.

If you operate a staff canteen or are a food retail business it is important to keep a close eye on what is being ordered and try to reduce those items which prove less popular. If you end up with food left over with short life spans consider donating it to local food banks or charities. In France legislation is being introduced to stop waste food being thrown away at large supermarkets and who is to say this will not happen elsewhere. Some large retailers in the UK already donate their unspoiled food to local charities.

Composting at Work

Many businesses don’t consider this but it’s possible to set up a food composting area at a company as long as you have outdoor space. If you even consider how many tea bags alone are thrown away daily, this makes it well worth it. Set up an outside bin or composting box, this should be lockable to prevent people throwing general waste into it. The resulting compost can be used by staff with gardens or donated to local schools or growing projects.

Managing Food Waste at Home

It isn’t just businesses who need to reduce waste we can all play a part in our homes. Today is World Hunger Day and with the ever widening divide between those who have too much to eat and those who go hungry every day, many of whom are in our local community, it makes us all think a little more about what we can do.

The most vital step we can take is by careful meal planning and making sure we don’t over purchase. Many tons of food waste are thrown out weekly, and it tends to be fresh fruit and vegetables, which we just haven’t got round to eating.

What we purchase is also important, try to buy locally from farmers’ markets and buy food which is in season, so it hasn’t been shipped long distances. If you can dedicate a small section of your garden to growing your own fresh produce, this will lower your carbon footprint. If you grow an excess of any crop you can always give it to family, friends and neighbours.

What you do with any waste is also important. You can easily compost food waste at home and use this as highly nutritious mulch for the garden. Food packaging should be recycled, so it doesn’t end up in landfill. When you are making choices at the supermarket you can also reduce waste at source. Do you need those triple plastic packed apples or could you buy the loose ones which you can just place in a biodegradable paper bag?

By making simple choices about where and how much food we buy we can drastically reduce our weekly waste. To make a further contribution to those who go hungry on a daily basis, including children, why not donate just one item a week to your local food bank where it will be put to good use.