DVIDS – News – LRMC DFAC plans to deliver sustainable options

LANDSTUHL, Germany – Serving three meals to a hospital with over 2,500 workers members and a median visitor throughput of greater than 2,500 a day means a variety of waste over the course of a yr.

To fight waste manufacturing, enhance sustainability and contribute to the U.S. Military Installations Technique, a 15-year lengthy technique which goals to deal with individuals, improve readiness and resilience, modernize and innovate, and promote stewardship, Landstuhl Regional Medical Heart’s Eating Facility is slated to maneuver towards one hundred pc recycled reusable plastic containers for patrons who aren’t eating within the facility. This transfer would substitute the present polystyrene foam containers whereas decreasing waste and promote stewardship within the host nation of Germany.

“We determined to start out a sustainability initiative as a way to cut back our waste stream and attempt to be extra environmentally pleasant,” stated U.S. Military Maj. Andrew Otto, chief of Culinary and Hospitality at LRMC. “(The containers) are broadly recognized all through the (culinary) business. They’re at universities, civilian hospitals and different army eating services even have them.”

In line with Otto, the containers are a small a part of the sustainability answer with the extra vital aspect being a refrigerator-sized meals assortment system which was not too long ago put in contained in the eating facility. The gathering system permits patrons to return their reusable containers for a token which might later be redeemed for a clear reusable container, both on the authentic eating facility or some other taking part eating facility, together with these exterior the army.

“There’s going to be a bit little bit of a special means of how (a buyer) usually would get meals,” explains Otto. “(Contributors) could be using this machine with each meal that you just get. You buy the container and take the container wherever you wish to eat your meal, whether or not it is right here within the eating facility or again at your workplace, and even take them house and devour the meal there. These containers are extra leak proof than the usual (meal to-go) disposable. While you’re performed with that meal, you scrape out remaining meals, return the container into the machine and repeat the cycle.”

Whereas there are almost a dozen reusable containers of various capacities, together with a 16-ounce cup and cutlery, LRMC will start with a smaller number of containers to evaluate the method. In line with the producer, containers are reusable as much as 300 instances, microwave and freezer protected and will be washed in dishwashers. Moreover, the brand new containers are BPA free and in addition utilized at close by army installations akin to Ramstein and Spangdahlem Air Bases.

“The machine helps cut back our carbon footprint through the use of reusable containers, helps cut back greenhouse fuel emissions and helps cut back water utilization, stated Otto. “All of our trash with the everyday (polystyrene foam) and even (paper-based) disposables need to be processed someway and proper now it goes out via trash.

In line with some research, the decomposition of polystyrene foam is estimated to take as much as 500 years and has recycling choices. Moreover, the U.S. Environmental Safety Company classifies the product as a attainable carcinogen, making greener, extra sustainable alternate options extra inviting.

“We have a couple of totally different different sustainability efforts happening akin to rewriting our menu to be extra seasonal to reduce general affect and value,” stated Otto. “We’re all on this collectively and making an attempt to be higher stewards for our host nation services.”