So Vienna's Kitchens Want to Waste Less Food

Around 100 establishments, including hospitals, nursing homes, company restaurants, and schools, are currently participating in the food waste monitoring of the initiative United Against Waste (UAW). The program is showing results: within five years, the amount of discarded food has been reduced by an average of a quarter.

99 Viennese Large Kitchens Aim to Reduce Food Waste

The core component is the management tool MONEYTOR, which has been in use since 2018. It allows kitchens to continuously record their waste quantities and compare them with other locations. Currently, 99 Viennese kitchens are in the program, with the best only having to dispose of one percent of their meals, while the worst experience up to 55 percent loss. On average, 16 percent of the meals served are thrown away – a decrease of six percentage points since the start of the monitoring.

According to Environmental Councilor Jürgen Czernohorszky, every ton of food waste avoided also saves two tons of CO₂. At the same time, it is about economic efficiency: on average, each establishment incurs 112,000 euros worth of waste per year.

Focus on Schools: Reducing School Meal Waste

This year, the focus is particularly on Vienna's schools. 30 new locations have been included in the monitoring and were recognized by Deputy Mayor Bettina Emmerling together with Czernohorszky. Initial evaluations show that an average of 24 percent of ordered school meals are discarded. However, the best schools achieve waste rates of less than ten percent.

Emmerling emphasized that at these schools, the ordering system is handled particularly carefully and children are more involved in menu planning. Absences of students are taken into account, and unpopular dishes like soups or salads are ordered in smaller quantities.

Cafeterias of Wiener Linien Among the Leaders

The all-day elementary schools Breitenfurterstraße, Knöllgasse, and Krottenbachstraße are particularly successful and shared their experiences in a panel discussion. They were recognized along with several Viennese companies that are active in other areas of community catering.

The "Best-of-Austria" locations include the cafeterias of Wiener Linien and the St. Josef Hospital, which are leaders in their categories nationwide.

Action Days Against Waste

The initiative United Against Waste is supported by business, politics, NGOs, and science. Around the World Day Against Food Waste on September 29, it organizes the action days "Nothing Left for Waste" for the seventh time. Partner companies provide tips on waste prevention and implement informational measures for employees, residents, and guests.

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