Food waste control directed towards restaurants

To whom it may concern,

Food waste is a massive problem that can be solved if everyone did their part. In regards to restaurants, several efforts can be implemented throughout every department significantly decreasing the food waste from that restaurant alone. Reducing the amount of food that is not paid for by donating it to feed the hungry and integrating a strong recycling mindset in the workplace goes a long way. In addition, one can shift food waste from landfills to compost which betters the Earth and as animal food. Reports have stated that approximately 63 million tons of food is collected annually in the United States alone. A grand forty percent or 25 million tons of waste are brought out from consumer-facing businesses. Actions that can be integrated in restaurants can range from having smaller plates, decreasing the portions of food, promoting to customers to grab only what they will eat, and getting rid of trays. Smaller plates decreases the area of space that customers would have so they can actually grab a practical amount of food that they will finish. Same reasoning applies to decreasing portions of foods. Now, while voiding trays from their restaurants may seem odd, it decreases the average consumer from going back for seconds in a self service environment. Having rid of trays in a certain restaurant in Kentucky showed a thirty percent decrease in food waste. Although decreases the sizes is a sly way to go about decreasing the amount of food that would most likely be thrown away by limiting the space the buyer would have, verbally promoting to customers to grab only what they know they will eat or giving to a person in hunger nearby if it’s not all finished would be an effective method to lesson the amount of garbage that will end up in landfills. The importance of decreasing the number of food waste is countless that benefits not only the consumers from all over the world, and lessening the negative environmental impact, but the owners of food establishments as well. The amount of uneaten food in America for the year of 2008 in restaurants and homes was valued at a staggering three hundred and eighty dollars per person. By tracking the waste impact, it is a small investment that would bring more buyers to the diner which coincides with larger overall earnings. In a world where people are starting to see the negative impacts their daily actions can have on the Earth, possessing a place to eat that supports a “go green” mindset will encourage more businesses to do the same while gaining the support of the people. Outside of these methods, restaurants can also combine their efforts with organizations to offer their remaining food items to feed the homeless. Substances ranging from bread to meals that would have been thrown away at the end of the day.Actions stated and countless more to be thought about are what will help cut down the huge amount of food waste we add to an already enormous pile of garbage taking us a step closer to making the Earth a more suitable place to live.

Sincerely,

Angel Valdez