Composting is the choice method in many restaurants for recycling food waste. While it can be appealing to throw anything in a compost pile, there are some food items that you should not compost. It can be a confusing and intimidating concept to start out with, but composting can be easy and very beneficial to the environment. Take care of your food waste by composting at your restaurant and use it as fertilizer for gardens or plant boxes. Restaurants are beginning to recycle their food this way to help reduce the negative environmental impact of food waste in landfills.
Food Waste Recycling
We’ve created a food recycling infographic on what you can and can not compost to help you get started with recycling your food waste. Some items may seem easier to throw into the compost pile, or you may not remember to separate things like stickers or packaging from food. As you become more familiar with composting it will get easier deciding what to and not to compost! Try and consistently use your compost until it becomes second nature to you and your staff.
What is Composting?
Composting involves recycling of organic material in a bin and allowing it to break down over time outdoors. In this process, organisms like bacteria and fungi break down organic matter over time. This results in a rich soil product that can be used as fertilizer or added back to the earth.
Tip: Offer a training day for kitchen staff on composting. Go through different kinds of foods that are common in your kitchen and whether or not they’re compostable. Reference this list for a refresher!
More on Food Waste
Are you curious to learn more about reducing food waste in your kitchen?
- Read more in our resource center on Ways Restaurants Can Reduce and Recycle Food Waste and Food Waste in Restaurants.
- Get the printable version of our Compost Infographic to keep as a quick reference.
Kelsey Moriarty is a Content Specialist at Central Restaurant Products. Her focus at Central is in the Food Prep and Furniture areas. Kelsey’s background is in technology and marketing with particular experience in SEO and E-Commerce. She enjoys helping customers make better decisions as well as working on her copywriting skills!
