You may love going out to eat at your favorite restaurant, but have you ever thought about how much food waste is generated there? According to a study by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an estimated 63.1 million tons of food waste was generated in the commercial, institutional and residential sectors in 2018.
That’s a lot of waste, and it’s important to think about where it all goes. Does your favorite restaurant have a plan for dealing with its food waste? Does it compost it, donate it, or throw it in the trash can?
As a customer, you have a right to know what happens to food waste. After all, it’s your money that helps pay for all that wasted food! Here are some questions you can ask your favorite restaurant about how they handle food waste.
45 Questions you can ask a restaurant about food waste:
- How much food do you throw away each day?
- How do you track your food waste?
- What are the main reasons why food is wasted in your restaurant?
- Have you ever considered implementing a “Perfectly Imperfect” production program?
- Do you compost your food waste? If so, what percentage of your total food waste do you compost?
- What other sustainable initiatives has your restaurant undertaken in regard to food waste?
- Do you donate surplus food to any local organizations? If so, which ones?
- Have you ever considered implementing a “pay-what-you-can” policy for surplus food?
- What education or training do your staff receive in regard to proper food handling and storage?
- Do you have any systems in place to prevent plate waste?
- Do customers have the option to order smaller portions?
- What packaging materials do you use? Are they recyclable, compostable, or reusable?
- Do you participate in any local or regional farmers’ markets or Community Supported Agriculture programs?
- Have you ever considered implementing an “ugly produce” program?
- What supplier relationships does your restaurant have in regard to product sourcing?
- Does your restaurant have an active social media presence? If so, do you use it to spread awareness about sustainable eating habits or tips for reducing household food waste?
- Does your menu change seasonally or according to what is locally available?
- Have you ever considered holding events or hosting workshops on sustainable cooking or urban gardening?
- What policies does your restaurant have in place regarding employee meals made with surplus ingredients?
- Are there any other ways that customers can get involved with reducing food waste at your restaurant?
- What initiatives do you have in place to reduce food waste?
- How do you measure your food waste?
- Do you donate leftover food to charity?
- How do you portion your dishes?
- What do you do with unserved food at the end of the night?
- Have you ever considered holding events or hosting workshops on sustainable cooking or urban gardening?
- What policies does your restaurant have in place regarding employee meals made with surplus ingredients?
- Are there any other ways that customers can get involved with reducing food waste at your restaurant?
- Where do you source your ingredients from?
- Do you grow any of your own produce?
- Do you offer smaller portion sizes upon request?
- Do leftovers come with extra packaging if I don’t want them wrapped up?
- What happens if I don’t want my leftovers bagged up after my meal?
- How do you dispose of your food waste?
- Do you have a composting program?
- Do your staff receive training on food waste reduction?
- Are there any financial incentives for reducing food waste?
- What challenges do you face in reducing food waste?
- Can you tell me about any successful initiatives you’ve implemented to reduce food waste?
- Are there any other restaurants in the area that are doing similar things to reduce their food waste footprint?
- How does your restaurant compare to others when it comes to food wastage?
- What do you think the restaurant industry could do to further reduce its overall impact on food waste?
- What are the main reasons for your food waste?
- How do you dispose of your food waste?
- Do you use any methods to prolong the shelf life of your foods?
Frequently Asked Questions
How do restaurants measure food waste?
Restaurants typically use three methods to measure food waste: weight, volume, and percentage.
Weighing food waste is the most accurate method, but it’s not always practical, especially in commercial kitchens.
Measuring food waste by volume is less accurate than weighing, but more practical for large kitchens.
The third method, measuring food waste as a percentage of total sales, is the least accurate, but also the easiest.
What is the cause of food waste in a business?
Food waste can be caused by many things in a business. Spoilage, overproduction, improper handling, and incorrect ordering are some of the most common causes.
What are the impacts of food waste?
Food waste has a number of impacts on society and the environment. For one, food waste consumes valuable resources that could be used to produce food for hungry people.
In addition, food waste produces methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Food waste also pollutes our water and soil.
Conclusion
Reducing food waste is a complex issue, but it’s one we can all make progress on by asking questions and holding businesses accountable. Next time you visit your favorite restaurant, ask them about their food waste practices!
They may not have all the answers yet, but every journey starts with a single step. Who knows – maybe you can help them take that first step toward becoming a more sustainable business!
