Checklist to a More Sustainable Home
Building materials and methods: If you’re planning on doing any building work in your home, consider how you can do this work with sustainable materials and methods. Things to consider investing in include passive solar design, smart metering, high performing windows and doors, sustainable roofing etc. If you are doing any building work, reuse and recycle building waste as much as possible.
Insulation: The better insulated your home is, the more likely it will have a higher BER rating. Although insulating your home can be costly, you could save money in the long run by reducing your heating bills. The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provide various insulation grants including grants for attic; internal and external walls; and cavity wall insulation.
Energy Source: Have you ever considered switching to green energy? Having solar panels fitted to your home can be expensive but could save you money in the long run. The SEAI provide grants for people who want to use renewable energy, such as the solar electricity grant and the solar water heating grant.
Energy consumption: Are there appliances in your home that you could manage without and which require energy usage? Rather than using the dryer to dry clothes, could you dry your clothes on a line in the garden or on a clothes horse indoors? Likewise, could you wash the dishes by hand rather than use the dishwasher?
Windows and doors: If you have old windows and doors that aren’t glazed well, you could find your home has lots of draughts. To limit the amount of warm air escaping, you could use a draught seal which is an easy and cheap way of sealing your windows. If you had the money to replace the windows with newer ones that would be ideal, and you’ll likely reap the benefits when it comes to your energy costs.
Ventilation: Place a chimney balloon in your fireplace when it’s not in use will ensure heat doesn’t escape up the chimney. You can also check your air vents in the house. They may need to be cleaned or replaced to ensure better airflow in your house.
Lighting: Replace old light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. This will reduce your electricity bill and will cut down on your carbon footprint. Turn off lights when they are not required as this will also reduce your energy consumption.
Appliances: When buying new appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines, try to buy the most energy-efficient options. The more energy-efficient the cheaper it will be to run. When discarding of old or broken appliances, try to do so ethically by recycling at a registered recycling centre.
Decorating: If you are decorating your home, use eco-paints. They emit fewer toxins and are more environmentally friendly to manufacture. When buying furniture for your home consider natural options such as wood or leather. Although they might be more expensive than synthetic options, they could last longer and are also less toxic to produce.
Cleaning: An easy and cheap way to ensure you’re living more sustainably is to change your cleaning products to eco-friendly alternatives. Many household cleaning products have toxins that eco-friendly versions don’t have. All supermarkets have environmentally friendly sections in their stores, so you don’t have to shop elsewhere to avail of these products.
Recycle waste: Reduce single-use plastics and make sure to recycle as much as possible. You could also try to buy food that isn’t in any packaging to reduce the amount you have to recycle yourself. Consider getting a compost bin in your garden where food waste can go, again reducing your waste disposal going to landfill. Likewise buying products that are made from recycled materials is better for the environment too.
Water saving: Have you considered installing a water harvester? They are inexpensive and a great way of conserving and collecting and storing rainwater for alternative uses such as watering your plants and cleaning your car.
Get advice: From podcasts, to blog articles and the internet, there is a whole host of information out there on how to live more sustainably and the benefits to our environment, health and wellbeing. Pick up tips and advice from others who are living sustainably.
Change your habits: When it comes to incorporating more ethical and sustainable practices, we can all make a difference. Simple changes in our attitude and thinking can go a long way to ensuring our homes are sustainable and eco-friendly.
Our Guide to Repurposing Old Household Items – 7 Upcycling Ideas
October is National Reuse Month, a great opportunity to learn more about reusing, repurposing, and upcycling unused household items. These three words can be encapsulated in one simple definition; taking a thing you are not using and putting it to another use.
Now we’re not telling you to hoard all your unused household items until you have rooms filled with junk. However, if you find you have some of the following products lurking around your home, below are 7 ideas for repurposing everyday household items you probably haven’t considered!
T-shirts
According to Oxfam Ireland, Irish people dump 225,000 tonnes of clothing every year. Instead of throwing away old t-shirts, why not repurpose them into tote bags that can be used for groceries etc. To create a reusable shopping bag; cut the sleeves and neck out of the t-shirt, cut strips along the bottom hem, and tie the strips of fabric together (you can cut the fringing off if preferred).
Wellies
Repurpose outgrown wellies and make colourful garden plant pots – a simple upcycling project that the whole family can get involved in.
Single Socks
We all have sock singles lying around the house, and where their mates disappear to is an unsolved mystery in every household. Unless you are rocking the odd socks, repurposing them is a great idea. Odd socks make great rags that you can fit your hand into to clean anything around the house, from blinds to toilets, to ceiling fan blades.
Glass Jars
Glass jars can be upcycled into beautiful tea light holders. Create a stained-glass effect on your glass using Sharpies and pop a tea light inside.
Egg Cartons
Egg cartons are another disposable household items that can be upcycled to make a few useful items. One option is to repurpose your used egg cartons into an organiser for small household items, such as jewellery, office supplies or beads.
Another useful household item that can be made from paper egg cartons is seed sprouting containers. Split up your egg carton into single seed pots and plant your seeds. Once the seedlings get big enough to plant, simply wet the whole egg carton cup and plant it into the soil. The soggy paper egg carton will break down over time in the dirt.
Newspapers
Reuse newspaper as a paper towel when cleaning glass and mirrors. Newspaper won’t leave behind any fibres or residue, just a streak-free shine!
Cardboard Toilet Paper Rolls
Toilet paper rolls are something we all have excess of at home. Of course, you can throw these in the recycling bin, however repurposing your paper rolls to make these electronic cord organisers is another great option and will solve the battle of the tangled wires.
Let’s celebrate National Reuse Month by reusing, repurposing, or upcycling some household items that often get discarded without a second thought. We’d love to see pictures of your recreations!
Soft plastics can now go in your green bin…
You can now place all plastic into your green (recycling) bin – once it is clean, dry and loose.
What does this include?
- This includes both soft and rigid plastics – everything from a plastic bottle to the plastic film on fruit packs!
Why the change?
- In recent years, there have been many improvements in the technology used for plastic recycling. For example, some Irish recycling facilities now use state of the art optical sorting equipment that can identify different plastic types based on reflection and refraction of light beams, which has increased the opportunity to recycle more plastics. This coupled with continued advancements in technology and the emergence of new markets for different plastic types will also play an important role in plastic recycling into the future.
What will happen to the soft plastic?
- Most of the soft plastics will be sorted and turned into “bales” and sent to recycling plants in Europe and Asia.
- Any remaining plastics can be converted to a Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) which is used in cement kilns. This replaces fossil fuels, which has a positive impact in terms of lower greenhouse gas emissions.
- By putting all clean, dry and loose plastic into your green bin we can ensure that no recyclable plastic inadvertently ends up in landfill. As technology improves and more types of plastic can be recycled, recycling system will be able to sort and pick them up without delay.
For a downloadable recycling list – click here.
For more information from MyWaste.ie – click here.
Disposing of Electronic Waste – Safely!
It’s no secret that we love our devices! Continuous advancements in technology bring new products and gadgets into our homes, resulting in old electronic goods that need to be disposed of. However, most end-of-life products contain metals and minerals that can be recovered, as well as harmful substances that need to be disposed of carefully.
A study into consumer shopping habits during the pandemic showed a surge in spending on new electrical devices like mobile phones, computers, small kitchen appliances and white goods. In fact, the annual tonnage of electrical goods rose from 15kg per person in 2016 to 21kg last year, according to WEEE Ireland CEO Leo Donovan. However, unless these electronic devices are traded in for a new device, each of those gadgets eventually reaches the end of its useful life and becomes electronic waste.
Why should I recycle my electronic waste?
- Electronics contain harmful substances such as lead, mercury, and cadmium, which must be disposed of correctly. By recycling your e-waste, you are reducing the number of harmful substances going to landfills.
- Raw materials recovered from waste appliances can be recycled and reused.
- To conserve natural resources as materials such as plastics, glass and metals are recovered for use again by manufacturers.
So, what is the best way to dispose of electronic waste?
- Give your e-waste to a certified electronics recycler
Recycling centres, not for profit organisations, such as WEEE Ireland and local civic amenity sites allow you to recycle your electronic waste for FREE! You will find an interactive map on the WEEE website that will guide you to your nearest local recycling centre, Public Collection Day, Electrical Retailer and Bulb Exchange Store. - Sell your outdated technology
One man’s junk is another’s treasure. You can easily sell your old electronic appliances on an online marketplace such as Facebook Marketplace or Donedeal. Not only are you promoting the circular economy by giving your e-waste a new lease of life, but it is also a good chance to make some money.
- Donate your old electronics
If you do not wish to sell your outdated technology, there is always the option to donate it. Many charities in Ireland accept electronics.
When selling/donating electronic goods, it is important to ask 2 questions:
- Is it working properly?
- Is there any personal information saved on the computer/phone/laptop that should be deleted?
With all of that in mind, we are hosting a FREE electronics recycling event with WEEE Ireland in our recycling centre in Oranmore on Saturday the 11th of September.
In 2020, 11.2 kg of e-waste was recycled per person in Galway – exceeding both the 2019 collection rate of 10.9kg, and the 2020 national average – also 10.9kg per person. However, Galway’s e-waste recycling target for 2021 has increased to 13kg per person, to reflect yearly increases in electrical goods consumption, accelerated by Covid-19.
To help our county meet the increased recycling targets, we are urging Galway householders to bring any electrical and electronic waste to our free collection day with WEEE Ireland.
What can I bring?
All household items with a plug or a battery will be accepted free of charge, including old washing machines, TVs, toasters and kettles, electronic tools and toys, cables, IT equipment, mobile phones, remote controls, and even watches.
Where is the WEEE collection event?
The City Bin Co. Recycling Centre, Oranmore, Co. Galway, H91 EVW3
When is the WEEE collection event?
Saturday September 11th from 10am – 4pm
About WEEE Ireland
WEEE Ireland accounts for over two thirds of all national waste electrical and electronics collection activity on behalf of 1,189 producer members.
In 2020, the equivalent of 225,182 tonnes of CO2 emissions were avoided by recycling e-waste through the WEEE Ireland Scheme as opposed to landfilling. That is the equivalent of the annual carbon consumption of 4,504 hectares of trees.
Moreover, 84% of all material that WEEE collect is recovered for use again in manufacturing through both indigenous operators and specialist processors in Europe, according to CEO Mr. Donovan.
We really look forward to working with Galway householders and WEEE Ireland to hopefully recycle a record-breaking amount of electronic waste in 2021!
7 Ways to Make Your Business More Sustainable
Sustainability can be defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. There are three pillars of sustainability: economic, environmental, and social.
In terms of business, a sustainable or green enterprise refers to one that has a minimal negative impact or possibly even a positive impact on the environment, community, society, or economy.
There are many ways your business can become more sustainable, but focusing on environmental impact, here are our top tips to boost your business’ efforts:
1 Go Paperless
A significant amount of paper printed in the workplace ends up in the bin before the day is out. Almost all formerly paper-based documents can now be handled digitally, for example, invoices, timesheets etc., making switching to digital simpler. Moreover, storing documents on cloud-based servers rather than print hard copies saves paper but also means you will never lose anything important.
2 Recycle More
About 75% of waste materials that end up in the grey bin could be recycled. The reason that a lot of people don’t recycle more is that it requires a little planning. However, at The City Bin Co., we will do this for you by;
- Carrying out a waste audit of what your business throws away and what’s recyclable.
- Putting a recycling plan in place & providing staff recycling training
- Stationing recycling bins throughout your office
- Providing a Bindex detailing your business’s recycling rates, allowing you to easily track improvements made and cost savings.
3 Switch to LED lighting
Bright LED lightbulbs use 4 to 10 times less energy than halogen and incandescent bulbs. One of the easiest ways to conserve energy is to switch out your current lightbulbs and replace them with LEDs. Although LEDs can be more expensive up front, they will pay for themselves over time through reduced energy usage and fewer lightbulb replacements.
4 Give your employees reusable water bottles and keep cups
An easy sustainability win is to ban plastic bottles at work and give your employees reusable bottles and keep cups. This change will need to be facilitated by installing water fountains or water coolers so that employees use these sources for drinking water. At The City Bin Co., we all use our own reusable cups, which saves the equivalent of 64,000 takeaway coffee cups a year.
5 Use Sustainable Products
Whether you are a restaurant or office block, your business can use sustainable products, such as printer paper, cleaning products or to-go containers.
6 Start Composting
If you own a restaurant or café that produces used coffee grinds and leftover food scraps, composting is not only a great way to divert waste from landfill but will also reduce your waste bill and it makes a brilliant resource to have your plants thriving. If you don’t have a garden to use your compost in, you can give away free compost to customers or donate it to local gardens.
7 Create a Sustainability Culture
For your organisation to be truly sustainable, you need to get buy-in from your employees. There are many ways in which you can instil green habits within your employees, here are some examples:
- Hang clear signage and posters that act as reminders to recycle and turn off lights etc.
- Encourage employees to take part in “greener” activities by rewarding sustainable practices such as riding a bike to work instead of driving.
- Make sure bins are clearly signposted and in the most useful location for your employees to dispose of waste correctly.
If you are interested in discovering how we can help you meet your sustainable business goals, click here.
If you have any great sustainable business tips, we would love to hear them – contact us on any of our social media accounts below!
Most Sustainable Olympics Yet?
The organisers of the Olympics wanted to create a “minimal impact Games”, through a series of steps outlined in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Sustainability Plan.
The majority of venues that will host events already existed with several reused from the Tokyo 1964 Olympics and podiums and medals have been made from recycled materials.
The sustainability plan claims the games are moving “towards zero carbon” by “focusing on maximum energy savings and use of renewable energy”.
Read on for 10 design projects that aimed to make the games more sustainable…
Torch by Tokujin Yoshioka
The Olympic torches, designed by Tokujin Yoshioka, were made up of recycled construction waste from temporary housing used in the aftermath of the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami in 2011.
The designer used an extrusion technique to produce the 71-centimetre rose-gold torches, which resemble the national flower of Japan, the sakura flower. Both the relay torches and cauldron holding the Olympic flame are fueled by hydrogen instead of fossil gas.
Electric e-palette vehicle by Toyota
The autonomous and electric e-Palette vehicle was designed to transport Olympic and Paralympic athletes around the Olympic Village without generating emissions.
Japanese car company Toyota modified its existing fleet of e-Palette vehicles to better suit the needs of athletes who required fuss-free and comfortable transport.
Some of the modifications include widening the doors, lowering the flor and adding electric ramps to enable passengers – particularly wheelchair users – to board easily and quickly.
Medals by Junichi Kawanishi
Japanese designer Junichi Kawanishi extracted precious metal from old mobile phones and other e-waste donated by the public to create reflective, ribbon-like rings around the edge of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic medals.
Kawanishi’s winning medal design was selected from a competition that drew entries from more than 400 professional designers and design students. The medal cases which are manufactured from dyed Japanese ash wood, have been designed by Shinya Yoshida.
Beds by Airweave
Japanese bedding company Airweave produced these lightweight recycled cardboard beds and customisable mattresses for athletes.
Of the 18,000 beds and customisable mattresses created for athletes at this summer’s Olympics, 8,000 will be repurposed for use by athletes at the Paralympics.
The brand claims that the mattresses, which are made from polyethylene fibres, can be recycled an unlimited number of times.
Japan National Stadium by Kengo Kuma
Japanese architect Kengo Kuma created a wooden lattice design for the Japan National Stadium, which will house the opening and closing ceremonies as well as the athletics events.
Torchbearer uniforms by Daisuke Obana
Recycled plastic bottles collected by Coca-Cola have been used in the white T-shirts and trousers worn by torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic torch relay.
The Tokyo Olympic Association designed the unisex Olympic torchbearer uniforms under the theme “hope lights our way”.
The designs all feature a sash with a chequered pattern that is known in Japan as ichimatsu moyo. The same pattern can be found in the Tokyo 2020 logos.
Basketball & Soccer Uniforms by Nike
Sportswear brand Nike used recycled polyester made from plastic bottles and recycled nylon as well as rubber and yarn waste from the company’s factories to create these uniforms.
Among them are soccer jerseys for the American, Korean and Nigerian teams, alongside kits for the USA’s men and women basketball teams.
The brand says that the uniforms will be the “most sustainable” and “highest performing” to date.
Podiums by Asao Tokolo
The winners at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics will receive their medals on podiums made from 24.5 tonnes of discarded household plastics.
Japanese artist Asao Tokolo gathered the plastics from the Japanese public before recycling the material and turning it into filaments, which were used to 3D-print the podiums.
The equivalent of 400,000 bottles of laundry detergent was collected to create all 98 podiums that will be used during the Games.
Olympic Village Plaza by Nikken Sekkei
This temporary structure by Tokyo studio Nikken Sekkei was built using 40,000 pieces of Japanese wood. The pieces of cypress, cedar and larch were “borrowed” from local governments across Japan.
The timber space will be used as the central meeting and dining place for athletes, officials, guests and the media within the Olympic Village throughout the games.
Skateboarding Uniforms by Nike
Bright colours and geometric patterns adorn the skateboarding uniforms that Nike has designed for the first skateboarding competitors at the Olympic Games.
According to Nike, all of the skateboarding jerseys are made up of 100 per cent recycled polyester from “water bottles and other things that would go to waste”.
The sportswear company has created uniforms for the United States, France and Brazil. They will all be bringing teams to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics to compete in the sport’s first street and park competitions at the Olympic level.
From original article at dezeen.com
Top Rubbish Removal Tips for your Next DIY Project
Rubbish removal is something every home and business owner must be aware of when starting a DIY project. Here at The City Bin Co., we want to remove the hassle of waste clearance by offering three rubbish removal solutions in Galway and Dublin.
To eliminate some of the stress of undertaking a DIY project, we have put together our top tips for dealing with waste from any DIY project.
Consider the size of your DIY project…
The amount of waste you create will depend on the type of project undertaken. Firstly, the size of the DIY project indicates how much waste is likely to be produced during work. Secondly, you will have a better idea of what types of waste likely to be met along the way.
Figuring out how much waste your DIY project will create will help determine if you need to hire a skip, if you should avail of a junk collection service, or if you can manage to dispose of your waste at your local recycling centre.
Educate yourself on waste disposal procedures…
Improving your knowledge is an important part of the DIY rubbish removal process. There are many useful blogs and tutorials available online. Some great topics to start with include environmental waste disposal, DIY guides, best rubbish removal practices in Ireland, waste recycling and upcycling ideas. Once you understand waste removal best practices you will be better equipped for getting rid of junk from your property.
Pick a suitable rubbish removal solution…
We have two hassle-free cost-effective options for rubbish removal in Dublin and Galway, Skip Hire, and our Junk Collection service.
Skip Hire
We have Skip sizes to suit any size DIY project you’re starting.
- Our mini skip is perfect for DIY jobs, general clear-outs, or renovations on your business or home.
- Our standard skip is suitable for large home or work clear-outs, as well as bigger home renovations.
- Our large skip is the perfect option for large projects, or large producers of waste domestically, industrially or for your business.
Junk Collection Service
Our Junk Collection Service is a great low-cost alternative to skip hire, or if you do not have enough space on your premises for a skip. Our hassle-free Junk Collection Service is a simple and effective rubbish removal option for households and businesses undertaking DIY projects.
Happy DIY-ing! & if you book one of our collections, we’d love to see your ‘before & after’ shots!
Earth Day 2021
When is Earth Day 2021? What is Earth Day about? How are people celebrating Earth Day 2021?
There are many questions surrounding the ever more important Earth Day! Earth Day 2021 will take place on April 22nd. Earth Day is the international day of environmental action, first celebrated on April 22nd 1970, and now attracts an estimated one billion people every year, from 193 countries.
10 Simple Ways to Mark Earth Day 2021
1. Get Moving
A great way to celebrate Earth Day 2021 would be to start finding transport alternatives that reduce your carbon footprint whilst getting you moving. The fewer cars on the road, the less carbon emissions polluting the air. Help our country reach the EU target of a 50 % reduction in emissions by 2030.
2. Shop Smart for Clothes
We all love treating ourselves to a new outfit every now and again, but we can do so in a way that is environmentally friendly! Buying materials that’s already been used is great for the Earth because it doesn’t involve new resources. Second-hand clothing apps such as Depop have all kind of beautiful clothing pieces, shoes, and accessories, and you’re saving money as well as the planet.
3. Plant Something
Trees clean the air and give off more oxygen (one large tree can supply a day’s supply of oxygen for four people), among many other benefits. Plant a tree in your garden – they are proven to increase the value of property by approximately 15%. If you are not ready to commit to planting a tree, another great option is to start growing your own fruits and veggies, which will benefit your health, whilst reducing the amount of fossil fuel emissions spent in having to transport the produce to supermarkets.
4. Tune into Earth Day 2021 Events
Join the world leaders for Earth Day 2021 for three days of climate action from April 20th – 22nd.
On April 20th you can join the global youth climate summit led by Earth Uprising featuring youth climate activists including Greta Thunberg, Alexandria Villaseñor, and Licypriya Kangujam.
On April 21st Education International will lead the “Teach for the Planet: Global Education Summit”, which will feature prominent activists, focusing on the crucial role that educators play in combating climate change and why we need transformative climate education now. On April 22nd “Earth Day” Earthday.org will host its second Earth Day Live digital event at 12pm Eastern Time. The theme of this year’s Earth Day is Restore Our Earth™. Tune in to learn more about natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can restore the world’s ecosystems.
5. Conserve Energy at Home
We are all spending a lot more time at home and this has been reflected in the 9% increase in carbon emissions from the residential sector in 2020. There are many small changes we can make in the home to conserve energy. Some simple examples include turning off lights and electronics when not in use, using a timer thermostat, hanging the clothes on the line instead of using the dryer, and using LED lightbulbs.
6. Recycle your Electronics
Recycling your old, unused or broken hairdryers, computers, tablets, phones and other electronics saves natural resources while also reducing pollution. Your WEEE items can be recycled for free at your local recycling centre – see here for directions to ours!
7. Buy Local
Buying local produce and other items reduces shipping distances from food sourced overseas, whilst also supporting local businesses and communities. Food in grocery stores travels on average 1,500 miles to get to you. All that shipping can cause an increase in fossil fuel consumption, carbon emissions and pollution. When you buy locally, produce and other items travel a shorter distance to arrive at your doorstep.
8. Reduce your Paper Waste
Some great ways to reduce your paper waste is opting for online billing, removing your name from unwanted mailing lists to reduce junk mail, and thinking twice before you print something.
9. Use Reusable Bags
To avoid having to purchase plastic bags from the shops, keep a stash of reusable bags in the boot of your car that you can use again and again.
10. Follow the 3 R’s
By looking for ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle in your home wherever possible you will save resources, energy, and money on your waste bill. We have many fun DIY project ideas like this Garden Bar on our blog and social channels (see below) for both kids & adults!
How will you mark World Earth Day? We’d love to know! Share your Earth Day 2021 plans with us on our social channels!
DIY Bar – Weekend Project
Who doesn’t love a bit of DIY on a Saturday afternoon? Not only that, but this one will allow you to sit back and relax at the bar after a hard day’s work. Yes, that’s right, a BAR!
Team member, Caoimhe Sheridan, takes us out of the (home) office and into the garden with this fun and functional DIY bar.
To build this upcycled bar all you will need is:
- 2 crates
- 2 planks of wood (longer than the width of the crates)
- Screws
- A drill
- A saw (preferably electric)
- Fun decorations
Step 1: Simply cut one of your crates in half.
Step 2: Position the full crate on its side, slotting the half crates into each side to build the bar structure. Drill at least two screws into either side of the bar.
Step 3: At this point you can sand down your wood, but this is optional. Once the bottom structure is sturdy, add one plank of wood on top, screwing as you go. Next, cut the other plank in half and attach to the two sides of the bar.
Step 4: Spice up your bar with any decorations you can find. We painted the bar counter and a recycled cardboard frame, adding fairy lights and candles to finish it off.
Step 5: Finally, don’t forget to send us on a snap of your creation to marketing@citybin.com. You can also share to your favourite social media channels!
IBM Hackathon winner helps fight rash of wasted food
food waste2
IBM recently called on developers in the U.S. to use open-source technology to create solutions to fight food waste. The Food Waste Developer Challenge wrapped up in August and the winner of the competition has just been announced.
Food waste is a major issue in the U.S. By the USDA’s estimates, 30-40 percent of the food supply goes to waste. In 2010, when the agency compiled its most comprehensive food waste figures, that corresponded to roughly 133 billion pounds and $161 billion worth of food.
The consequences of this waste range from food security to ecological issues.
“The land, water, labor, energy and other inputs used in producing, processing, transporting, preparing, storing, and disposing of discarded food are pulled away from uses that may have been more beneficial to society,” according to the USDA, “and generate impacts on the environment that may endanger the long-run health of the planet.”
Incredibly, given that food security is such a pressing issue in this country and elsewhere, food waste is the single largest component going into municipal landfills, according to the EPA.
IBM, along with partner AngelHack, created the Food Waste Challenge on the premise that coders can help create a more transparent and real-time supply chain tracking how food is sold and fulfilled with waste reduction in mind. Developers in the contest were asked to leverage IBM’s code patterns and data sets to create new solutions that dramatically reduce waste through grocery and food chains. Some of the tools at their disposal include IBM Watson Visual Recognition, IBM Blockchain, and chatbot APIs.
One month and more than 100 registered teams later, IBM has announced that a winner is a group called FreShip.
FreShip combines software and hardware to minimize food waste through constant monitoring along with a smart eCommerce platform that allows food that would otherwise be wasted to be resold elsewhere. FreShip places Arduino and NB-IoT technologies in food shipping containers to help monitor food freshness during transport. Smart bidding contracts are deployed via blockchain.
“Using IBM Watson machine learning, FreShip analyzes photos of food to determine how fresh it is and provides options for what to do with food instead of letting it go to waste,” according to IBM. “For example, if a supermarket orders bananas and due to shipping delays the bananas are too ripe for them to sell, instead of them being thrown away, FreShip would allow them to redirect this shipment of bananas to a manufacturer that could use them.”
The result is a reduction in the loss for the supermarket, as well as less food waste.
For winning the contest, FreShip will get a few thousand bucks. A bigger prize, however, maybe the exposure the first place finish brings. IBM will be inviting the FreShip team to a dinner summit with grocery industry leaders, as well as showcasing the technology through various IBM channels.