Recent initiatives by the New York City Department of Sanitation to promote collection of food waste and use of composting techniques represent opportunities for food-related businesses to adopt new best practices with impact for operations, finances and the local environment.
A proposed rule would expand the mandate that food service businesses and retailers of a certain size comply with “source separation, storage and labelling” of food waste.
According to Tom Toscano, CFO, Mr. T Carting, one of the six largest private carting companies in New York, several of its clients that are restaurants, catering halls, grocery stores, fruit stands and food producers are among the early adopters of collecting organic materials, even before DSNY puts these new regulations into effect. “Mr. T Carting has had a program for separate food waste collection since 2005. More than 40% of our customers are in food-related businesses, so we know how important it is to offer this food waste collection service. Many new customers appreciate that they can contract with Mr. T for compost collection, recycling and trash services — all from a single vendor,” said Toscano.
According to Bonnie Chaplin, Operations Manager at Five Leaves restaurant in Brooklyn, it is not only a forthcoming regulation, it is more efficient for food-related businesses to separate their trash before it is collected. “Trash pickups are priced by weight. When we separate the organic trash and recyclables, the remaining items, of course, weigh less.”
Jen LaPorta, Director of Operations, Hudson Jane restaurant in Brooklyn, says, “The fees for collection of organic materials are lower than for ordinary trash. Separating food scraps for composting lowers our expenses and is good for the environment.”
There are additional operational benefits to separate food waste collection, Toscano added. It contributes to the overall cleanliness of the store or restaurant. It also helps with pest management. “Rats and mice have much less to feed on when food waste is stored in tight containers,” he added.
As for residential buildings, curbside organic waste collection has already begun in three areas of Queens (Community boards 2, 9 and 14) and voluntary programs for residential buildings in The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens have been underway since April.
For more information, and to speak with Tom Toscano of Mr. T Carting and its customers, please contact Janet Falk at 212-677-5770 or [email protected].