Food Waste Management &

Prevention

Pauline McDonogh
Limerick Clare Kerry
Regional Waste Management
Office
Why an interest in
Biodegradable Waste?

 In 2008 37% 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

Composition of Mixed Waste November

2006

38%
40% 31%

30%

20% 13%
9%
10%

0%
Cardboard Organic Paper Plastic
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

40.0%
35.0%
30.0%
25.0%
20.0%
15.0%
10.0%
5.0% Liquid
0.0% Segregated

d
al
es
Ca per

s
s
nic

he
tic

ile
Mixed

oo
as
ar

et
sit
as

Ot
ga

Pa

Gl

xt

W
M
bo

po
Pl

Te
Or

rd

m
Co
Killarney National Park Visitor
Centre Audit May 2010

Composition of Mixed Waste Fraction

Organic
24%
Landfill
45%

Dry
Recyclables
31%
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 2010.
 Need to continue work within the sector to
promote food waste prevention & promote
local case studies on food waste prevention
& segregation
 Thank You for listening
For further information, please contact me at:
rwmo@limerickcoco.ie or log onto
www.managewaste.ie