Commercial Food Waste Prevention in Tompkins County Nancy

Commercial Food Waste Prevention in Tompkins County Nancy 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

Re. Business Partners Est. 2006 • Designed to help businesses, schools, and organizations practice the 4 Rs • Partners receive: – – – a free waste assessment ongoing technical assistance desk-side recycling bins education signs and decals public recognition

Food Waste Generators • Approximately 250 Re. Business Partners • ~200 businesses composting • Follow ups and ongoing relationship • Pre-consumer vs. Postconsumer

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 Lean. Path online • Real-time data and reports • Individual user codes and participation awards • Training resources

Criteria • • • Pilot Partners Re. Business 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 • Each business achieved some waste reduction – Equipment return – Feedback: software, • Software- easy, tablet, change of intuitive team culture, • Hardwaresavings, malfunctions and wifi expectations issues led to – Potential local applications: premature end culinary network

Lessons Learned • Champion and • Tablets in management kitchens need interest is key. protection. • Full team • Be clear about engagement expectations ensures continued – Goals data collection. – 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 Division www. recycletompkins. org 273 -6632