Category Archives: General

Diving In

There’s a relatively new documentary on dumpster diving called, appropriately, Dive. Based on the trailer, I’m excited. Here, check it out: Has anyone seen this film? There are some upcoming screenings in California and Texas. Unfortunately, it’s not on Netflix, but you can buy the DVD from the site.

November 30, 2009 | Posted in General | Comments closed

Guest Post: Be Thankful, Not Wasteful

Hannah Katsman is a mother of six and an expert on efficient cooking. At Cooking Manager, she shares easy recipes and tips on planning menus, shopping, food storage, appliance usage, entertaining, leftovers, and more. Below, she lends her insight on how to reduce waste and enjoy your Thanksgiving: Lots of guests, a table groaning with […]

November 23, 2009 | Posted in General | Comments closed

Delving Deeper into UK Waste

Not content with their excellent 2008 study on waste throughout the food chain in Britain, the semi-governmental group WRAP just released a more detailed study on household food waste. This is a pretty big deal in these parts, and I’ll be making my way through the study in the coming days. In the meantime, here […]

November 11, 2009 | Also posted in International, Stats | Comments closed

(Less) Evil Empire

I guess the Yankees aren’t all bad. There’s a neat article in today’s Times tracing the path of donated concession food from Yankee Stadium to those in need in the surrounding neighborhoods. Rock and Wrap it Up facilitates this donation of unsold event food and many others. I spent a pleasant summer evening talking with founder […]

August 15, 2009 | Posted in General | Comments closed

Friday Buffet

Taylor, Texas has its own backyard produce-to-the-hungry program. For those of you green thumbs in towns without such a thing, check out Ample Harvest. — — If you think you’re having a bad day, at least this didn’t happen to you. What a nightmare! — — Save the date: June 20th marks the start of the second Eating […]

June 5, 2009 | Posted in General | Comments closed

Gallery Now Open

Pass the cheese, help yourself to some wine…it’s time for the opening of the second exhibit in the Wasted Food Gallery. This exhibit comes to us from the camera of “Secret Freegan,” a Phoenix resident who dumpster dives and donates her findings to the hungry. You can view Secret Freegan’s photos via the Gallery tab, which is always atop […]

May 26, 2009 | Posted in General | Comments closed

Trays Abolished!

Huzzah! Before lighting out for Europe, President Obama issued an executive order banning the use of cafeteria trays in federally-funded all-you-can-eat facilities. All colleges and universities that accept government money will have until August to cease using trays or risk losing their funding and, possibly, accreditation. Sorry to say it, but…April Fool’s!! Oh well. Maybe […]

April 1, 2009 | Also posted in Trayless | Comments closed

Recession Concessions

Sometimes a little belt tightening is healthy. Lord knows we’ve had our national belt on pretty loosely these last few decades. The economic downturn might help by forcing businesses and individuals to examine their habits. This USA Today piece on hotel budget trimming had this tidbit buried toward the end: When [the] Hilton Anaheim anticipates […]

March 17, 2009 | Also posted in Composting, Supermarket, Waste Stream | Comments closed

Recyclemania Reduction Rant

It’s mid-March, which means it’s time for the ultimate collegiate competition. No, not the NCAA Tournament, RecycleMania! That also means it’s time for my annual RecycleMania rant! The college recycling competition, which began 2001 under the auspices of the National Recycling Coalition, is generally a very positive undertaking. But, the “targeted materials” category of “food service […]

March 16, 2009 | Also posted in College, Composting | Comments closed

Trays a la carte

Loyal WF reader Dan Livingston recently e-mailed in with this question: Is there any rationale for going trayless in a non-all-you-can eat setting? If diners pay for each item, do trays encourage waste? As far as I know, traylessness isn’t useful for reducing waste in an a la carte setting. But maybe some of you have experiences that […]

February 19, 2009 | Also posted in Trayless | Comments closed