Within the hospitality industry, food and beverage operations account for a substantial amount of waste. This waste can be defined as:
Pre- and post-consumer food waste. Pre-consumer waste is defined as being all the trimmings, spoiled food and other products from kitchens that end up in the garbage before the plate makes it to the consumer.
Post-consumer waste is any rubbish left once the customer has consumed the meal.
Packaging waste especially in the form of plastic that cannot biodegrade naturally, as anything used to hold food coming into the kitchen and going out. Operating supplies encompass every other piece of material used that becomes wasted in a foodservice operation, such as cooking oil and light bulbs