Program on the Environment

Waste is something that no one wants to talk about because it is classified as unclean and useless. However, companies are in an interesting position between natural resources and customers to be able to make a difference in the amount of waste that we produce as our population continues to grow. The aim of this study is to see the opportunities and challenges that sustainable companies in the food industry are having when disposing of their waste. To gain hands-on experience of what companies go through to deal with their waste, I completed an internship with Town and Country Markets, Inc, creating a comprehensive analysis of their current waste system and improvements that they could make. Simultaneously, I completed a thorough literature review on how companies can better manage their waste and interviewed local leaders in the food production industry known for their sustainability. The findings from this process show that issues arise when government, companies, waste providers, and customers are not able to effectively communicate what they want and need. This often leaves parties unaware of what is expected of them when it comes to waste disposal. Noticing miscommunications like these can help to influence future collaboration with all parties to find sustainable balances that proportionately benefit those involved. Since many party’s inputs are needed to solve waste problems around the world, there must be communication to see how individual parties are doing, how others can help them solve their sustainability issues, and what can be learning from them.