New Food Waste Calculator!
Hello everyone:
We are passionate about food waste reduction! We like to share our experiences, hints and tips with all of you. Hopefully you can use these tools to reduce food waste in your operation. We would like to share a new tool with you. It’s a calculator that can help you learn about the different types of food waste that are created in your operation. Be sure to select the type of operation from the drop down box (grocery, hospital, restaurant, college, etc.) The EPA has created this food waste calculator and it looks great!
The calculator estimates the cost competitiveness of alternatives to food waste disposal, including source reduction, donation, composting, and recycling of yellow grease. Specifically, the calculator: Develops an alternative food waste management scenario based on: Your waste profile; Availability of diversion methods; and Preferences, and Compares cost estimates for a disposal versus an alternative scenario. The Calculator demonstrates that environmentally and socially responsible food waste management is cost-effective for many facilities and waste streams.
The calculator is based on a simple excel file and is VERY easy to use. You type in a few numbers based on your food purchases, disposal costs, etc. and the calculated results show up on a separate tab. I especially like two tabs – Cost Graphs (visuals are always helpful) and Composting Environmental Benefits (which shows a breakdown of various impacts from your composting).
After you have the results – you can determine which disposal/diversion/reduction method will save you the most money and have the biggest helpful impact on the environment.
To access the calculator click on the direct link: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/organics/food/fd-tool.htm Or go to the EPA main website: www.epa.gov and search for
