Hospitality sector looks to promote waste issues

The association's Sustainability Committee met at the end of last month, and it has now established a framework which it plans to use to help its members, who represent more than 40,000 establishments, become more proactive about waste management and recycling.

The activity, which will also address energy and water issues, will be centred on an online sustainability forum which is being developed on the BHA's website.

The project aims to highlight and give examples of best practice across the industry, offer high quality advice about sustainable practices and also to lobby the Government and EU legislators on waste issues that affect the hospitality sector.

John Dyson, food and technical affairs advisor at the BHA, commented: “These three simple headings give a logical framework for us to work together to address the enormous issues which face our members and indeed all businesses in the 21st century.

“We know we have to further develop sustainable practices in our sector, whether that be best practice for food waste management, transportation of goods, or ways to reduce energy consumption,” he added.

In addition to the developing the framework the sector has also been working with the waste sector to learn more about recycling. It meets up with waste companies on a regular basis – most recently the BHA met with waste management firm Cawley's to find out about how it collects commercial food waste for treatment using anaerobic digestion.

Mr Dyson explained: “Sharing knowledge and experience is key to the role of the committee. From this we will be developing information and support services to members. This is a very lively and constructive forum with valuable contributions from all our members, and I am grateful to them for their time and commitment, which should benefit the whole hospitality sector.”