Recycle Week 2017: What is Recycling Worth to Your Business?

So what does recycling mean to the hospitality industry, and what’s it worth to your business? Let’s take a look at the ways that embracing recycling in your restaurant or foodservice business could bring a positive boost.

1. RECYCLING CAN SAVE YOU MONEY

When it comes to waste management, service partners usually charge differently for the type of waste they remove. Because recyclable waste holds a value, the emptying of general waste is charged at a higher rate than recyclable waste. As a business you are likely to be charged on a ‘per bin’ basis or for total volume for each category of waste.

It therefore makes good financial sense to recycle as much as you can. Glass, plastic, cardboard and metals can all be recycled, with the help of colour-coded recycling bins that keep your different types of waste organised and separated.

2. YOU GET THE ‘WARM AND FUZZIES’

Looking after the world around us is a collective responsibility, and as part of the service industry where consumption is an intrinsic part of what we do, it’s a responsibility we ought to take seriously. Knowing that you as an individual, or the company you own or work for is committed to reducing the negative impact of waste can give you a serious case of the warm and fuzzies.

It’s nice to be nice and it’s even nicer to encourage others to make an effort too. Becoming a successful business that takes recycling seriously sets a great example to other traders, large and small.

3. YOU CAN WIN ACCREDITATION

If you’d like to demonstrate your commitment to recycling and reducing waste you can sign up to the Courtauld Commitment 2025, which is a voluntary agreement. Along with reducing food and drink waste it encourages everyone working across the food and drinks sectors to increase efficiency and provide lower impact products.

You could even choose to ramp your sustainability efforts up a notch and apply to become accredited as part of the Sustainable Restaurant Association, which encourages members to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’.

4. AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, YOU CAN WIN YOUR CUSTOMERS’ RESPECT

Along with tips on reducing your food waste, we’ve investigated the on-going consumer interest in sustainability on the blog before. Sustainability is much more than a trend or marketing tool; for many of the most ethically-minded consumers it’s becoming a must-have on the checklist when they dine out.

Like a well-considered menu and a perfectly plated dish, genuine sustainability efforts will win you respect from your customers and go a long way towards fostering their loyalty too.

For more helpful tips on reducing waste in your restaurant, plus many more ways to make your foodservice business more efficient, visit the Hints & Tips category on our Blog.