Hotels, Bars and Catering Businesses

Waste from catering operations exemplifies one of the major problems concerning waste and recycling. Packaging materials are often contaminated with food waste or mixed with other types of materials. Mixed wastes are much more expensive and complicated to recycle.

Vegetable based food waste can be collected for composting, although cross-contamination with meat products must be avoided.

Un-contaminated packaging should be segregated into different materials. Glass, plastic bottles, cardboard and paper can all be recycled.

Aluminium cans and foil food containers are also recyclable, although food residues must be removed from foil before it can be accepted at recycling banks.

Steel food cans can also be recycled although they have only a limited value at present. They should be rinsed and crushed to reduce volume before taking to a recycling centre or for collection.

Selecting more durable external packaging materials that can be reused can also help reduce waste volumes and again there are opportunities for choosing easily recycled material or those made from recycled materials.