Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo

In 2019, Sri Lanka introduced two policies that referred to food waste and the need to reduce it. To understand key stakeholders’ readiness in this context, this study analyzed the food waste perceptions of private and public sectors in Colombo (open markets, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, cante...

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Main Authors: Reitemeier, Maren, Aheeyar, Mohamed M. M., Drechsel, Pay
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: MDPI 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110897
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author Reitemeier, Maren
Aheeyar, Mohamed M. M.
Drechsel, Pay
author_browse Aheeyar, Mohamed M. M.
Drechsel, Pay
Reitemeier, Maren
author_facet Reitemeier, Maren
Aheeyar, Mohamed M. M.
Drechsel, Pay
author_sort Reitemeier, Maren
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In 2019, Sri Lanka introduced two policies that referred to food waste and the need to reduce it. To understand key stakeholders’ readiness in this context, this study analyzed the food waste perceptions of private and public sectors in Colombo (open markets, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, canteens, food caterers and key authorities). Interviews were carried out with operational managers and public officials, as well as other stakeholders who have roles in food waste redistribution and reuse, such as NGOs and the livestock sector. So far, the food-waste-related policy recommendations lack an operational inter-institutional home which can build on measures, like standards, regulations and incentives. Thus, most food waste reduction initiatives are initiated by NGOs or by the private sector, e.g., by larger hotels and supermarket chains. These entities were ready to lead by example, based on the understanding that urban food waste is an internal (financial) management challenge. Among smaller local entities, food waste was perceived more as an external issue to be handled by the city’s waste collection services. Although perceptions varied between entities generating smaller or larger quantities of food waste, there was general agreement that suboptimal capacities and mechanisms to quantify, monitor and cost food waste generation appeared to be obstacles for in-depth awareness creation and action. There was significant interest in communication platforms for cross-sectoral learning, win/win collaborations with reliable collection (reuse) services that are currently operational, such as those provided by piggeries, as well as surplus redistribution initiatives if food safety and related liabilities can be addressed effectively.
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spelling CGSpace1108972025-10-14T15:09:09Z Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo Reitemeier, Maren Aheeyar, Mohamed M. M. Drechsel, Pay food wastes waste reduction strategies waste management food surplus waste treatment recycling resource recovery urban areas landfills stakeholders local authorities awareness raising training policies livestock feed sustainable development goals In 2019, Sri Lanka introduced two policies that referred to food waste and the need to reduce it. To understand key stakeholders’ readiness in this context, this study analyzed the food waste perceptions of private and public sectors in Colombo (open markets, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, canteens, food caterers and key authorities). Interviews were carried out with operational managers and public officials, as well as other stakeholders who have roles in food waste redistribution and reuse, such as NGOs and the livestock sector. So far, the food-waste-related policy recommendations lack an operational inter-institutional home which can build on measures, like standards, regulations and incentives. Thus, most food waste reduction initiatives are initiated by NGOs or by the private sector, e.g., by larger hotels and supermarket chains. These entities were ready to lead by example, based on the understanding that urban food waste is an internal (financial) management challenge. Among smaller local entities, food waste was perceived more as an external issue to be handled by the city’s waste collection services. Although perceptions varied between entities generating smaller or larger quantities of food waste, there was general agreement that suboptimal capacities and mechanisms to quantify, monitor and cost food waste generation appeared to be obstacles for in-depth awareness creation and action. There was significant interest in communication platforms for cross-sectoral learning, win/win collaborations with reliable collection (reuse) services that are currently operational, such as those provided by piggeries, as well as surplus redistribution initiatives if food safety and related liabilities can be addressed effectively. 2021-01-16 2021-01-19T04:30:59Z 2021-01-19T04:30:59Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110897 en Open Access MDPI Reitemeier, Maren; Aheeyar, Mohamed; Drechsel, Pay. 2021. Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo. Sustainability, 13(2):838. (Special issue: Sustainable Food Waste Management in Foodservice Establishments) [doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020838]
spellingShingle food wastes
waste reduction
strategies
waste management
food surplus
waste treatment
recycling
resource recovery
urban areas
landfills
stakeholders
local authorities
awareness raising
training
policies
livestock feed
sustainable development goals
Reitemeier, Maren
Aheeyar, Mohamed M. M.
Drechsel, Pay
Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo
title Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo
title_full Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo
title_fullStr Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo
title_full_unstemmed Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo
title_short Perceptions of food waste reduction in Sri Lanka’s commercial capital, Colombo
title_sort perceptions of food waste reduction in sri lanka s commercial capital colombo
topic food wastes
waste reduction
strategies
waste management
food surplus
waste treatment
recycling
resource recovery
urban areas
landfills
stakeholders
local authorities
awareness raising
training
policies
livestock feed
sustainable development goals
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/110897
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AT aheeyarmohamedmm perceptionsoffoodwastereductioninsrilankascommercialcapitalcolombo
AT drechselpay perceptionsoffoodwastereductioninsrilankascommercialcapitalcolombo