Category Archives: International

The Green Arches?

Say what you want about McDonald’s (and folks around the world have plenty to say), at least they’re experimenting with environmental responsibility. In the UK, anyway. The world’s largest fast food chain is currently undertaking two experiments. First, McDonald’s is finally doing what many companies have done–turning to biodiesel as an environmentally friendly fuel source. Sorry “grease car” enthusiasts, […]

October 11, 2007 | Also posted in Restaurant, Technology, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Mottainai!

Most Mondays, I offer advice on how to avoid waste. Today, listening to this NPR piece on the Japanese idea of Mottainai will be more helpful than any of my specific recommendations. Mottainai means, roughly, ‘don’t waste.’ The concept is part of Japan’s cultural DNA, but it had recently been losing out to consumerism (sound familiar, my […]

October 8, 2007 | Also posted in History and Culture | Comments closed

Less Rice Save Money Day!

Beginning in December, diners in Hong Kong will receive a discount for asking for less rice than usual. Sure, it’ll only be one day a month, but it’s still a neat idea. As the South China Morning Post (log in required) reports: From December, the first Wednesday of each month will be designated “Less Rice Save […]

October 3, 2007 | Also posted in Personal, Restaurant | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

No doubt taking a cue from my vociferous stance, an Inuit leader told the Canadian Navy not to dump food waste (and sewage) in arctic waters. — — Here’s an interesting CNN video report on food waste in Hong Kong. A whopping one third of their waste stream is food, compared to 17 percent in […]

September 28, 2007 | Also posted in Friday Buffet, Restaurant | Comments closed

Ramadan Waste

The articles on Ramadan food waste continue to roll in here at Wasted Food Headquarters. This article in Qatar’s Gulf-Times provides an Upstairs, Downstairs-like, behind-the-scenes insight on how breaking the Ramadan fast leads to food waste: Contrary to the essence and spirit of fasting, which is meant to incorporate piety and kindheartedness in those observing them, people […]

September 27, 2007 | Also posted in History and Culture | Comments closed

Friday Buffet: Asian Edition

This article in India’s The Hindu ponders which is a better use for food waste: composting or energy creation. Before reading, I would have said energy creation. Now, I’m not so sure. I don’t know about you, but I think this is a polite way of saying the West wastes some high quality food:   The […]

September 7, 2007 | Also posted in Friday Buffet | Comments closed

Capitol Compost

It seems like every day I read that another town in the U.K. has started separating and composting its food waste. Yesterday, it was the Scottish town of Banff (in Aberdeenshire). Here in the States, the good news trickles in less frequently. All the more reason to laud the launching of something like worm compost at North […]

August 30, 2007 | Also posted in Composting, Institutional, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Rotten Idea

La Tomatina takes place a week from today in Buñol, Spain. You know, it’s that big tomato fight in Spain. Far be it from me to comment on a traditional cultural event. I’m pretty sure that this is a giant waste of food. There just has to be a better use for tomatoes. Besides, it only dates back to 1944 […]

August 22, 2007 | Posted in International | Comments closed

Hospital Food Waste

Hospital food waste is a seldom discussed issue. More than most venues, some hospital waste is unavoidable. Many patients can’t eat or don’t have an appetite, for good reason. But still, hospital room service and cafeterias create plenty of avoidable food loss. To cut waste, some hospitals are using the ValuWaste program. The system, produced by Portland’s […]

August 9, 2007 | Also posted in Institutional | Comments closed

Nova Scotia News

A few blips from Nova Scotia crossed my desk last week. This article gave a behind-the-scenes look at fast food restaurants there. From reading it, I learned that the Canadian province has three distinct waste streams–trash, recyclables and organics. Some restaurants may be scandalously combining the three, but at least it’s an exception to the […]

August 7, 2007 | Also posted in Farm, Waste Stream | Comments closed