commercial food waste prevention in tompkins county nancy webster, assistant recycling specialist
TRANSCRIPT
Commercial Food Waste Prevention in Tompkins
CountyNancy Webster, Assistant Recycling Specialist
Tompkins County
• City of Ithaca: 30,014• Total County: 101,564• 41,674 Households• 476 Square miles
• Current waste diversion: ~60%• 85% waste diversion by 2030
ReBusiness PartnersEst. 2006
• Designed to help businesses, schools, and organizations practice the 4Rs
• Partners receive:– a free waste assessment– ongoing technical assistance– desk-side recycling bins– education signs and decals– public recognition
Food Waste Generators• Approximately 250
ReBusiness Partners
• ~200 businesses composting
• Follow ups and ongoing relationship
• Pre-consumer vs. Post-consumer
Lean Path• 2004, Portland, OR• Commercial Sector
– Hotels– Restaurants– Hospitals– Colleges
• Increase financial sustainability through reduced food waste
• Local success: Ithaca College Dining Services
• Worldwide application
Lean Path- ZAP
• Portable software for small businesses
• Use existing kitchen scale• Wifi LeanPath online• Real-time data and reports• Individual user codes and
participation awards• Training resources
Pilot PartnersCriteria• ReBusiness Partner• Already using Cayuga Compost• Small to mid-size kitchen and staff• Willingness to engage over 3 months• Open to waste reduction opportunities
Training• Management
Training– 45 minute virtual
training– Questionnaire of
location specific data • Launch Day
– Kitchen training– Management
overview– All staff practice– Place the tablet
and start TODAY
Ongoing Assistance• Champions
– Tech support– Local, continuous
resource– Coordination with
Lean Path experts– Baseline vs.
Opportunities
• Weekly Reports– Top Loss Reason– Participation– Potential Cost
Savings
Exit Interview
• 20-30 minutes– Equipment return– Feedback: software,
tablet, change of team culture, savings, expectations
– Potential local applications: culinary network
• Each business achieved some waste reduction
• Software- easy, intuitive
• Hardware- malfunctions and wifi issues led to premature end
Lessons Learned
• Champion and management interest is key.
• Full team engagement ensures continued data collection.
• Tablets in kitchens need protection.
• Be clear about expectations– Goals– Measurable change– Ongoing
participation
Next Phase: 2016
• Focus on 2 businesses, fully engaged
• Manager support from beginning to end
• Hospital food service, eldercare facility, local convenience store
• Seek advanced tech support from Lean Path
• Consider staff size for SWAT and culture changing
• Explore local application
Questions?Tompkins County Solid Waste
Management Divisionwww.recycletompkins.org
273-6632