Unit 1 Lesson 5 – Recognise the importance of safe waste disposal. Copy
What do we mean by safe disposal of waste?
In the food industry, waste disposal is key to ensuring correct health and safety standards are maintained.
Safe disposal means having waste units away from food areas. Food that has spoiled should be removed from the area as soon as possible and disposed of away from any other food preparation areas.
There should be sufficient rubbish containers to cater for all rubbish that is produced. If there is rubbish scattered within the working area and bins are overflowing this will clearly indicate that supply is not sufficient for the service area, or that the bins are not
being emptied as frequently as they should be.
This provides an unsafe working environment because of the increased chances of cross-contamination. The cleaning and waste disposal schedule should be consulted to see if amendments need to be made. Checking the times of day where there are peaks in amounts of rubbish produced will ensure that vigilance is maintained when it comes to disposing of rubbish safely and effectively.
Garbage areas must be kept clean and tidy. There are requirements that waste is stored in a manner that minimises contamination.
All bins must be in good condition and lids must be tight-fitting and secure to stop
pests from accessing them. Bins must be leakproof and the bags that are placed in
the bins must also be leakproof.
Bins must be cleaned regularly using brushes and cleaning tools specific for that task.
Degreasers should be used to cut through grease, while deodorants should be utilised
to remove pungent odours. Sanitisation chemicals can also be used to minimise
odours and stop attracting bugs and pests. Remember that cleaning is required
before sanitisation.
Ensure that after any garbage duty, hands are washed thoroughly.
Why is it important?
Removal of waste at regular intervals ensures that the area is kept clean and this is important for hygiene purposes.
Waste must be kept away from food preparation areas and lids must be used when storing waste to ensure that pests do not start lurking around these areas.
Disinfecting around waste areas is important to inhibit cross-contamination from area to area.
Food waste needs to be disposed of correctly to avoid oil and grease and fat from blocking pipes, sinks and drains.
Disposal of certain chemicals will need to be checked to meet environmental safety standards. The product will provide guidance around how to safely dispose of the chemical substance.
