What can you do with it to reduce waste?
Save it, Give it away, Move it
SAVE IT | GIVE IT AWAY | MOVE IT |
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- As long as the quality of the food won’t suffer and you have the storage space, you can always store it for future use.
- Be sure to label the storage container with the contents and date you prepared it.
| - After the shift, give remaining food away to employees.
- Give to charity, making arrangements with non-profits like local soup kitchens or food pantries so you can put your food to good use and build goodwill in your community at the same time.
- Keep records of these donations so you can claim them as tax deductions where allowed by law.
- Make arrangements with your nearby farms (including your suppliers) to use your scraps for animal feed.
| - Mark food down by 1/3 as you near closing time.
- To draw attention to this option (and potentially build your late-night traffic), advertise the savings on social media and provide coupons.
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Composting
Do it yourself
If you have the space and time, turning scraps into compost can be very rewarding. You can find bins online, build your own, or even use a bucket. Here is the basic approach:
- Pick a site, indoors or out.
- Create a bin.
- Layer food waste, dry plant material like leaves or sawdust, and soil.
- Add water to keep the pile damp.
- Stir the mixture to aerate.
- Wait 2-3 months, continuing to aerate and keep the mixture damp.
- Use the completed compost in your garden and containers.
- If you produce enough compost, you can give some away to your produce suppliers and/or customers.
- Remember to promote your efforts to the public!
Partner with a Provider
If you’re limited on space or have too many scraps, look for an industrial service that will provide bins and haul your compost away for processing.
Follow these guidelines:
COMPOSTABLE | NOT COMPOSTABLE |
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Put it in the bucket | Put it in the recycling or trash |
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Meat, bones, fish products
- Pasta, bread, cereal
- Cooked foods
- Dairy products, eggshells
- Coffee grounds, filters & tea bags
- Paper towels & paper towel rolls
- Soiled paper food packaging
- Pizza boxes
- Muffin wrappers
- Flour and sugar bags
- Items labeled BPI Certified Compostable
| PLASTIC (unless labeled compostable) - Styrofoam meat trays
- Aluminum foil
- Clam, oyster & mussel shells
- Candles, synthetic corks & gum
- Cigarette butts, tobacco
- Disposable mop sheets
- Recyclable materials
- Items labeled biodegradable (meaningless)
- Items labeled Oxo-Biodegradable
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