Category Archives: International

Paying for Restaurant Leftovers

Thanks to Ming’s Space, we get this wasted food snippet from an all-you-can eat restaurant named Coca in Singapore. Take it away, Ming: We were eating and joking away until I saw a little note sticked onto the table, stating that: “Every 100 grams of food wasted will be charged $5!” Awesome. I love that […]

January 22, 2008 | Also posted in Restaurant | Comments closed

International friends

My wife and I recently saw a friend who updated us on an acquaintance who started a non-profit in Kenya. One Acre Fund helps poor Kenyans feed themselves by helping them grow and sell crops. You know, the people whose hunger necessitates your cleaning your plate. (No pressure!) A few days later, I was saddened to hear about the unrest […]

January 6, 2008 | Also posted in Composting | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Those crazy Brits are at it again, using chocolate waste (an oxymoron?) to power vehicles. The BioTruck team converts it into biodiesel and drove all the way to Timbuktu on the choco-fuel in “the world’s first carbon-negative expedition.” — — Staying in Britain, The Times has an interesting profile of the queen of food recycling, […]

January 4, 2008 | Also posted in Food Recovery, Friday Buffet | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

I haven’t tried Green Bags yet, but the produce preserving plastic bags’ Web site sure makes an annoying a convincing case. Reviews of the product are mostly positive.  — — Looking for a fresh start in 2008? One idea is to clean out the fridge by making some simple meals with its contents. Seattle blogger Jack, of the Fifth Flavor, provides […]

December 28, 2007 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, Household | Comments closed

Surrey Cites Waste

According to the BBC, this man dressed as a waiter has been visiting “iconic” Surrey sights with a silver tray of food meant to represent how much the average Surrey household wastes in a week. That would be 57 pounds. It’s a worthy way to bring attention to a topic that, outside of this site, doesn’t get tons of […]

December 18, 2007 | Also posted in History and Culture, Household | Comments closed

A Little African Perspective

Many Americans grew up with the ‘clean your plate, there are starving children in Africa’ admonishment.  Apparently, some African immigrants use a similar expression today. Good to know! I think this post by “Ms. KB,” a Liberian woman now living in Pennsylvania, has an interesting and unusual perspective on food waste. Plus, she spins a good […]

December 13, 2007 | Also posted in History and Culture, Household | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Some Britons have called for a return to World War II era values. Hmm. If that means being more careful with our food, I’m all for it. If it means eating more bubble and squeak–pass. — — Random food waste note of the week: Weddings in Kyrgyzstan avoid food waste by making sure leftovers are split amongst attendees. […]

November 2, 2007 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, Household | Comments closed

Win-Win, Thanks to a Bin

How do you get people to participate in curbside food recycling? Flyers, education campaigns and information kits are nice, but maybe a cool character is better.  Newmarket, a town of 80,000 a half-hour north of Toronto, did just that with Binny. This amiable rolling food waste bin is certainly doing the trick. Despite only starting in […]

November 1, 2007 | Also posted in Composting, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Loss of Lamb

Today’s post is a sad one: 500,000 lambs will be killed in Scotland and Wales with none of the animals being used as food. Sending lambs to the slaughter is sad enough when it’s done to feed people. When it’s done for no real reason… From what I understand, foot and mouth regulations prevent much movement of flocks. […]

October 31, 2007 | Also posted in Farm | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

While I just learned he is running for President, former Alaska Senator Mike Gravel just jumped to the top of my list as the only politician who laments wasted food. In the same fantasy world in which Gravel lives, I hope to be appointed as America’s first Food Waste Czar. But I’ll settle for Secretary of Food Waste.  — —  Good news […]

October 19, 2007 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, School, Waste Stream | Comments closed