2.

Sustainability

There are many ways a food service operation can promote sustainability. One major
way this can happen is through reducing municipal solid waste (MSW). Specifically, at this long-
term subacute facility, there is a large amount of plastic disposable tableware that are used for
all three meals for all 700+ residents at the facility. This impact has great effects on the
environment and the amount of waste that is produced just from plastic utensils alone.
One way this facility can reduce this amount of plastic waste is through using metal
tableware in replace of plastic. According to the integrated solid waste management system,
the first goal is source reduction (Payne-Palacio & Theis, 2012). Specifically, for this facility, this
can happen through the reuse of utensils instead of one-use utensils. In previous years, metal
utensils were used at this long-term subacute facility. However, due to decreased numbers in
staffing, plastic utensils have been implemented.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), waste prevention through
source reduction has been shown to be effective in many states in taking initiatives to reduce
waste (EPA, 1998). The EPA also recognizes that consumers need to be aware and mindful that
the convenience of throwing away disposables have environmental consequences (Popkin,
1989). It was once discovered that 40% of 50 billion pounds of plastic used each year in the U.S.
were used to make plastic disposable items (Popkin, 1989).
Even if this long-term subacute facility can’t use metal utensils, one other option is to
purchase utensils that are degradable, recyclable and less toxic (Popkin, 1989).
References:

EPA. (1998). Municipal Solid Waste Source Reduction A Snapshot of State Initiatives . Retrieved
October 11, 2017, from https://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyPURL.cgi?Dockey=100013WL.TXT

Payne-Palacio, J., & Theis, M. (2012). Foodservice management: principles and practices (12th
ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Popkin, R. (1989). Source Reduction: Its Meaning and Its Potential. EPA Journal , 15(2), 27.
Retrieved October 11, 2017, from http://infohouse.p2ric.org/ref/23/22452.pdf