SUBJECT:	ZERO WASTE POLICY: FOOD AND CATERING SERVICES
CATEGORY:	Waste Management	POLICY NUMBER: 01

Zero Waste is an ambitious goal and represents a fundamentally different approach that tackles the root causes of waste and broadens responsibility for solutions.

PURPOSE

The Town of Markham is committed to promoting, facilitating, and modeling Zero Waste strategies. This policy has been developed to “lead by example” in the Town’s facilities, operations, functions and practices as they relate to food and catering services.

Town facilities have food service operations and activities that generate food and non food related waste. Currently the Town is responsible for the collection and disposal/recycling costs of managing this waste. The goal of the Policy is to ensure that all food service suppliers to the Town meet these performance standards.

SCOPE

· All Town facilities owned and leased

· All Town staff, foodservice suppliers, foodservice sub-contractors, caterers

· All new or renewed foodservice contracts

· All Town sponsored events and functions held at Town facilities including cooking courses

POLICY STATEMENTS

Suppliers shall recycle and/or compost all materials outlined on Appendix “A” and any other materials the Town deems capable of being recycled.

All shipping containers must be reusable or recyclable in the Town’s recycling program or returnable. Reusable shipping containers, especially for frequent deliveries are preferred.

Suppliers shall purchase coffee in reusable, recyclable or compostable containers or packaging only.

Condiments such as tea bags, sugar, milk, cream, mustard, ketchup, jam in single serve non recyclable packets are prohibited.

Suppliers will provide compostible stir sticks for hot drinks and compostable straws for cold drinks.

Polystyrene ( foam ) plastic products for food or beverages is prohibited. Reusable china dinnerware and stainless steel serviceware is preferred. If single use serviceware, plates, and bowls are offered ( paper based) they must be recyclable and/or compostable.

Paper products such as coffee cups and plates shall contain post consumer fibre and be recyclable or compostible. Biodegradable paper cups made of corn and 100% recycled unbleached compostable napkins are preferred.

Napkin dispensers are preferred over piles of loose napkins.

Drinking water in pitchers is preferred over single serve plastic bottles.

Using cellophane to wrap prepared food is to be avoided. Alternatives include domed serving trays, wax paper or butcher paper.

Zero Waste and recycling instuctions shall be visable in the food preparation and service areas. Educational materials approved by the Town will be visible and available.

Town approved recycling and composting containers will be placed in visible locations and kept clean at all times.

Waste collection and disposal costs will be the responsibility of the food service supplier.

Suppliers are encouraged to offer price incentives for use of reusable mugs or cups.

Suppliers are encouaged to donate surplus food to local shelters and food banks.

The Town reserves the right to evaluate and accept on a case-by-case basis any instances where it is reasonably determined by the Town that supplier practices may differ from policy so long as the purpose and spirit of the policy is upheld. The Town will work with Suppliers to assist them to improve their workplace practices.

The Town reserves the right to discontinue business with Suppliers who are not responsive to requests to conform to this policy.

A list of approved packaging suppliers is available from the Town’s Waste Management Department upon request.

DEFINITIONS

Acceptable Environmental Attributes include Biodegradable, Compostible, Recyclable, Recycled Content, and Reusable

Biodegradable refers to the ability of a material to decompose within a short period of time

Compostible refers ability to be accepted in the Town’s organic collection program

Facilities all Town facilities including Civic Center, Community Centers, Works yards, Varley Art Gallery, Markham Museum, Markham Theatre, and all arenas

Functions include staff celebrations, conferences, meetings and parties held in Town facilities, Town organized events.

Polystyrene means and includes expander polystyrene which is a thermoplastic petrochemical material including clear or solid polystyrene which is also known as oriented polystyrene.

Suppliers are companies that have a direct business relationship to the Town for the supply of goods and/or services. These companies may subcontract parts of their services.

APPENDIX “A”

Acceptable Recyclable Materials

§ All plastic bottles, containers and jars (numbers 1-7)

§ Plastic bakery trays

§ Plastic egg cartons

§ Margarine tubs

§ Plastic pails and tubs up to one gallon (4 litres)

§ All paper, newspaper

§ All boxboard, brown paper bags, paper egg cartons

§ Paper coffee cups (no lids)

§ Frozen food boxes

§ Metal food and beverage cans

§ Aluminum foil, trays, plates, cans and containers

§ Milk/juice cartons and juice boxes

§ Glass bottles and jars

§ Empty aerosol cans

§ Corrugated cardboard

Acceptable Organic Materials

§ All food and food scraps

§ Baked Goods, baking ingredients, spices

§ Bread, cereal, pasta

§ Coffee grinds, filters, tea bags

§ Dairy products

§ Eggs, egg shells

§ Fish, Shellfish

§ Flowers (dried and fresh cut)

§ Fruit and vegetables

§ Plant clippings

§ Meat products, chicken

§ Bacon grease, bones, fat

§ Soiled paper packaging

§ Microwave popcorn bags

§ Muffin paper

§ Sugar and flour bags

§ Kraft paper meat wrap

§ Soiled boxboard, ice cream boxes

§ Paper towels and Paper napkins

§ Biodegradable cutlery, straws and stir sticks