legislation
“A waste audit can help you identify the types and quantities of waste your business produces”
of labour is required per day, while the cost of running the composter would only include cheap ‘bulking agents, such as wood chips and coffee grounds, alongside minimal electric power.” Another example of a food waste recycling system is the Eco-Smart Food Waste Dryer. This system dries food waste overnight, reducing its volume by 80%. The resulting sterile powder can be used to generate energy from biogas.
The food waste hierarchy
The downside of the new legislation is that it will add to businesses’ costs, which could be a burden in these financially challenging times. Additionally, businesses will be required to fill out an annual waste return detailing how much waste they have disposed of. This could be a time-consuming and administratively burdensome task. However, Nathan Gray, head of Sustainability at Reconomy, has shared some insight highlighting the positive outcomes. “It’s possible that waste segregation can have a positive effect on your costings,” he says. “Generally, food waste is quite heavy, so disposing of
it among your general waste can increase costings. When separated, your general waste should be much lighter. Segregated food waste, for instance, is up to five times cheaper to dispose of per kilo. Therefore, your general waste will not only be lighter, but overall cheaper to dispose of.” A waste audit can help you identify the types and quantities
of waste your business produces. This information can then be used to improve your waste management practices and reduce your overall waste output.
Food waste recycling: Turning food scraps into new products
Gray believes that some businesses may be less prepared for the new legislation than others, especially smaller businesses that have little experience with sustainable waste management. So, what practises should businesses implement? Food
waste must be collected separately from general waste. This will require businesses to set up a new collection day and provide an extra bin for food waste. Businesses should no longer use macerators or liquidising digestors, as these devices have been banned in England. These devices are not environmentally friendly, as they use high volumes of water to flush food waste down drains. Food waste should not be sent to landfill. Instead, it
should be recycled through composting or anaerobic digestion. Composting transforms food waste into nutrient- rich fertiliser, which can be used to grow fresh fruit and vegetables. This is in line with the circular economy, which seeks to reduce waste and create a more sustainable system. “Typically, minimal resources are required to run such a device,” Gray continues. “Only around 15-20 minutes
bakeryproduction.co.uk
Bakery businesses in the UK will be required to follow the food and drink waste hierarchy, a set of guidelines that prioritises preventing food waste over other disposal methods. The food and drink waste hierarchy is an eight-step compliance policy that prioritises preventing food waste over other disposal methods. The steps are ranked from best (1) to worst (8), with options 1 to 4 providing guidance on how to prevent food waste and options 5 to 8 being required by law. • Reduce surplus and waste in your business. •
Donate or redistribute surplus food and drink.
• Upcycle surplus food into animal feed. •
• Recover waste through landspreading. • Generate energy from waste. •
Convert surplus food into biomaterials.
• Recycle food waste through anaerobic digestion or composting.
Send food waste to landfill as a last resort.
“The introduction of these new food waste legislation will pose a challenge to businesses as they race against time to get their processes in order.” concludes Gray. “However, if implemented correctly, they could pave the way to a more sustainable, carbon-neutral future”. Wales is ahead of England in implementing food
waste segregation rules. The Welsh legislation is set to come into force in October 2023, while the English legislation is still pending. However, it is important to start planning now for how you will comply with the legislation. By taking steps to reduce your food waste, you can minimise your third-party disposal fees and help to promote the long-term change our planet needs.
Sources • Food waste in the UK - House of Lords Library (
parliament.uk)
• Environment Act 2021 (
legislation.gov.uk) • Importance of Methane | US EPA •
https://www.cateringinsight.com/are-your- customers-ready-for-2023-food-waste-
• Sustainable Waste Management | Reconomy Kennedy’s Bakery Production August/September 2023 27
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