Food Waste Management & Prevention Pauline McDonogh Limerick Clare Kerry Regional Waste Management Office

Why an interest in Biodegradable Waste? In % of municipal waste was biodegradable 57% of this fraction consigned to landfill (EPA National Waste Report) EU Legislation: Waste Framework Directive & Landfill Directive - desire to be proactive in our approach

Waste Arisings in the Region 166,627 tonnes of commercial & industrial waste generated within the region in 2009 If 30% is biodegradable: 50,000 tonnes of biodegradable waste are being landfilled Priority waste stream

Background to our Prevention Projects From field to fork significant energy & resources are used to produce, transform and transport food. Lost resources & lost opportunities.

LAPD & LAPN Projects Funded through the EPA’s National Waste Prevention Programme Demonstration nature of Projects Data gathering, emphasis on sharing information

Project 1: Managing & preventing retail food waste Regional Shopping Centre - Shannon Footfall = 3 million per annum Strong food retailing to service industrial hinterland

SkyCourt Food Producing Retailers

SkyCourt Shannon

Segregation

Compliance by tenants

Results 15% diversion from landfill to compost, subsequently risen to 22%. Significant cost savings: reduced need for compactors & better rate for collection of brown bins.

Lessons Learnt Listen to tenants, work practices vary between retailers Design a system that suits both facilities management & retailers Keep it simple Communicate Persistence

Project 2: Preventing Food Waste Commenced new projects 2009 with focus on event & tourism destinations Segregation in place – shift in emphasis to encourage prevention Cliffs of Moher, UL Arena, Killarney National Park and Thomond Park. Combined visitors = 3 million in 2009

Heineken Cup Waste Audit

Killarney National Park Visitor Centre Audit May 2010

Barriers to Prevention

Prevention Opportunities

Compostable Products Trial

Consistent approach

Advocates

Significant Findings Before brown bin introduced, limited information on food waste generated Lack of ideas to prevent waste Unnecessary concerns create barriers Time constraints – kitchen staff in particular

Future Projects & Targets Since January 2010, the major waste collectors had to ensure diversion 100% of commercial organic waste from landfill. The collectors have a target of 40% of households to have an organic collection by the end of Need to continue work within the sector to promote food waste prevention & promote local case studies on food waste prevention & segregation

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