WASTE MANAGEMENT
MARCH | SECTOR FOCUS
The past few months have been instructive for waste
management companies
M
ore than ever before,
there’s a focus on your
waste, and what can
be done with it. Luckily, this has
prompted innovations from our
industry.
Research conducted by Lime
Venue Portfolio, in partnership
with BCD Meetings and Events,
underlined the need for the
event industry to take a lead in
tackling food waste.
The findings form part of
Chapter One of the Beyond Food
Report, which puts a spotlight
on the issue and encourages
organisers to take steps to
address it.
The research surveyed over
60 event organisers and showed
that just under a third of event
professionals admit to throwing
away at least 15% of the food
they commission at events, with
18% saying it was closer to 20%.
Meanwhile, 2% claim that the
amount exceeded 20%.
“Every day we hear about food
shortages in the world, and we
should be all playing our part to
reduce food waste wherever we
can. Event organisers are well
placed to advise and support
clients, caterers and venues
with their food orders and work
with them to tackle this issue,”
commented Jo Austin, sales
director, Lime Venue Portfolio.
“These findings are alarming
but won’t be completely
surprising to those who work
in the industry. We all know too
well how the fear of running
out can lead to over ordering,
but these statistics lay bare
the amount of food waste that
is being generated, that could
be prevented. As leaders in
the events industry, I’m proud
that Lime Venue Portfolio are
bringing this issue to light
and looking at practical and
measurable ways to solve it.”
But what can be done,
practically?
Stuart Jackson, managing
director, Falcon Cleaning and
Support Services says clients
all want high recycling output
but with minimal costs:
“They are asking us to ensure
sustainability as the local
boroughs and government are
rewarding companies for this.
“91% of plastic is not
recyclable, not many people
realise this and we have a big
issue sorting this, if not sorted
then whole skips end up in
general waste streams, Falcons
teams hand sort as much as
possible to overcome this issue.”
He calls for replacing single
use plastics. “Where possible all
sites are trying to come away
from single use plastics, for
example using deposit paid cups
or ‘the rubbish cup’, this cup is
100% recycled and goes back
into producing new cups.
“Over the past 18 months
Falcons teams have collected
over 150 tonnes of rubbish, we
are very proud to say 100% of
this has been diverted from
landfill. We have also invested
heavily in Hybrid/Plug in
vehicles and battery powered
machinery.
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