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Recycling ideas for TA

Discussion in 'Truck Stops' started by Sequoia, Jun 1, 2011.

  1. Jun 1, 2011 #1
    Sequoia

    Sequoia Road Train Member

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    Tampa Bay, FL
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    I was talking to a server at one of the TAs the other day and at first we were talking about when the new menu format rolled out. She said it's a great idea because this way if a menu gets dirty or ripped, they can just throw it out and grab a new one out of the box.

    "They don't get recycled?"
    "Nope."
    "Not even the extras at the end of the month?"
    "Nope."

    So then later we were talking about the bread they had available. I was getting the grilled cheese basket so she had to check to make sure the wheatberry bread was still fresh or if it had gone stale and they threw it out. Then she commented on how I wouldn't believe the amount of food that gets thrown out at the end of the night, between the restaurant, Popeye's and Subway.

    "It doesn't get donated to a homeless shelter or a food bank or anything?"
    "Nope"
    "The bread doesn't even get re-used to be made into croutons or something?"
    "Nope."

    Seems rather wasteful to me. Maybe there's a reason why the menus aren't being recycled and excess food isn't being either used the next day as something else or donated to the less fortunate.
     
    Sequoia, Jun 1, 2011
    Sequoia, Jun 1, 2011
    #1
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  3. Jun 1, 2011 #2
    Dna Mach

    Dna Mach Road Train Member

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    It's mainly because that 10 dollar meal costs about 30 cents to make. In other words they are so filthy rich they don't care. Of course c-store sales offer a high profit as well and they are a high volume retailer. Also keep in mind that TA's are franchised and not all of them operate in this manner. Some are more efficient than others and others might donate day old items as well.
     
    Dna Mach, Jun 1, 2011
    Dna Mach, Jun 1, 2011
    #2
  4. Jun 1, 2011 #3
    Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

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    They went to the paper menus because prices are going up rapidly, and it is cheaper to print some newspapers than it is to get the fancy laminated plastic glossy menus replaced.
     
    Hardlyevr, Jun 1, 2011
    Hardlyevr, Jun 1, 2011
    #3
  5. Jun 26, 2011 #4
    EddieSC

    EddieSC Bobtail Member

    25
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    Jun 25, 2011
    Birmingham, Alabama
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    Welcome to the restaurant industry in general. It's one of the big reasons I got out of that industry was because the waste was unholy. I got tired of throwing out 12-25 whole pizzas at the end of every night and not being able to take even ONE home to save on grocery costs.
     
    EddieSC, Jun 26, 2011
    EddieSC, Jun 26, 2011
    #4
  7. Jun 26, 2011 #5
    MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

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    As I understand it from a friend who was in the biz ... the food is tossed due to health and sanitation regs ... it's illegal to do anything with excess prepared food other than toss it.
     
    MysticHZ, Jun 26, 2011
    MysticHZ, Jun 26, 2011
    #5
    Roadmedic Thanks this.
  8. Nov 8, 2011 #6
    stocktonhauler

    stocktonhauler Medium Load Member

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    Dec 9, 2007
    Stockton, C
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    Excess food sent to food banks and shelters has to be of the same quality consumption as for customers, basically, which tends to discourage donations overall.

    But, this food isn't really "waste" because it could be fed to a compost pile, or maybe fed to animals. Mixing food waste with plastic and paperboard is an especially wasteful practice, since all plastics and most paperboard should be recycled. Even "dirty" plastics should be recycled because of the harmful environmental impact they have.
     
    stocktonhauler, Nov 8, 2011
    stocktonhauler, Nov 8, 2011
    #6
  9. Nov 8, 2011 #7
    Espressolane

    Espressolane Road Train Member

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    In a lot of places the health laws, regulations and so forth will not allow any excess food products to be "donated" for any reason. Once it is prepared for serving, if not used it is garbage.

    Also, you have the liability factor to deal with. (thank you insurance companies)
     
    Espressolane, Nov 8, 2011
    Espressolane, Nov 8, 2011
    #7
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