Waste management is a key concern for many restaurants. Keeping the restaurant clean ensures sanitary cooking and dining conditions for health code compliance. But reducing disposables and food waste can also help improve the restaurant’s bottom line and reduce its environmental impact. Here are a few waste management practices that restaurants can use to streamline garbage disposal practices.

Waste Reduction Strategies for Restaurants

1. Evaluate Inventory & Optimize Food Stocking

Reducing waste starts in the kitchen. Evaluate the food you have in storage. If certain items wait unused until they reach their expiration date, it could be a sign that you’re placing orders that are too large.

Perishable food items should be stocked using a “first in, first out” system in which the oldest items are used as soon as possible. This will keep inventory from expiring before it can get used.

2. Track Dish Popularity & Consumption

The sometimes unpredictable habits of customers is a common waste management complication for restaurants. However, you can mitigate this issue by tracking the popularity of different dishes and monitoring how often customers are unable to finish their meal. This will give you a better idea of how often to restock and help you adjust portion sizes to prevent waste.

3. Start Recycling

Disposable containers are another major source of waste in the restaurant industry. Rather than sending these items to a dumpster, start a glass and plastic recycling program to ensure they can be reused and recycled instead of adding to a landfill.

Employ similar initiatives with expired food. Use food waste for composting or to feed livestock. When unusable food items are left over at the end of the day, donating them to applicable organizations ensures they’ll be put to good use.

For all your restaurant waste management needs, count on Freedom From Waste in Farmington, MO, to provide eco-friendly and cost-effective solutions. In business since 2012, their passionate team is dedicated to helping create a sustainable, zero-waste community. To learn more about their commercial services, visit them online or call (573) 747-0550.