There has been a lot of discussion recently about the intended changes to food waste legislation which are supposedly due to come into effect this year.
Our sources in the industry are in direct communication with DEFRA and as yet the date for implementation is yet to be confirmed at the time of writing.
The proposed changes had been outlined in the 2021 Environment Act with an overall target to eliminate all food waste from landfill by 2030.
Whilst the exact details are yet to be outlined, the impact on hospitality businesses is likely to be connected to the separation and dedicated collection of any food waste, separate to other waste and recycled products.
There is existing legislation in place in Scotland already and we expect the English version to replicate that when it does come into practice, please contact us directly and we can discuss finer details with you directly.
There is a variety of suitable equipment to support this process, and appliances which are successfully being used now as part of plate scraping and food waste management best practice.
However there are also likely to be implications on what cannot be used after these regulations are brought into law, whilst the exact nature of the legislation is still to be outlined, the overall understanding is that the Government want to encourage the types of equipment which promote food separation for collection or onward use (i.e bins, de-waterers and remote pumped systems). By contrast we expect any items which do not promote this practice will be phased out or banned (i.e macerators or digesters connected directly to drain).
Existing legislation surrounding macerators connecting directly to drain is still somewhat of a 'grey area' but if in doubt it is our advice to avoid using anything which directly discharges fats, oils, grease (FOG), or food debris directly into the drain. Whilst there still isn't a direct ban in England on the use of macerators, almost all local water authorities ban the use of anything that directly discharges food waste into the sewerage system, and can levy large fines in the event of a blockage.
If you do already own a macerator, it may be possible to connect this to a separate de-waterer via the waste pipework, however not all models are compatible with this so we would recommend speaking to a specialist first.
In addition we recommend, if you do not already, that you use some form of food waste or FOG separation system in your drain lines, whether this is above or below ground, and we also advise that in most cases it is insufficient to only have an enzyme dosing system in place as your only source of drain maintenance.
Please do get in touch with a specialist to discuss what this means for you, there are a number of equipment solutions available, but this is only scratching the surface of the problem, the real message is that we are trying to reduce food waste all together, this isn't just about focusing in on what to do with those leftovers on your plate, it is about tackling this at source. This begins with menu planning, links into good food purchasing and storage practices, through food preparation and reducing spoilage and waste in the cooking processes. A foodservice consultant can help you in all of these stages, and with foodwaste presently estimated to be in the region of £1.70 per kilo, those savings can really add up.
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