Week 17 Waste Control - We've Got SALSA Sussed

Week 17 Waste Control

Hi Everyone!

I hope all of you have had a good week and looking forward to a good weekend ahead!

Another simple one this week!

Waste Control can be carried out in many ways, however when you are just starting out, then simple systems are the best.

We need to think about the following:

·         Waste bin type and location

·         Waste routes

·         Waste bin cleaning

·         External waste bin control

·         Waste Contractor Licenses

 

Let’s get started!

What’s coming next…

Week 18 – Pest Control

 

Waste Control – what do you need to show your SALSA auditor?

Waste Control Procedure

Waste Work Instruction

Cleaning Schedule / Records

Waste Contractor Licenses

 

We need to take a logical and sensible approach to managing waste. It might all seem like common sense, however I have seen waste managed badly in some sites. A simple procedure needs to document and demonstrate how you manage waste in your site.

 

In addition, to ensure staff know what the rules are, a Waste Control Work Instruction which tells them exactly how and when to handle waste is advised. People are the main reason for cross contamination, so we need to make sure we give clear instructions.

 

Waste Control Procedure

The Waste Control Procedure needs to document how you are controlling waste to prevent contaminating your site and your product.

 

Waste Type & Waste Contractor Licenses

You need to understand what type of waste you are handling, so that you know how to dispose of it.

 

You may have:

·         General Food Waste, this could include out of date ingredients and finished product

·         Liquid waste such as oils

·         Cardboard / Paper from packaging

·         Glass or cans from ingredient or finished product packaging

 

You will have to check with your contractor of how waste needs segregating. These methods might be different in different areas of the country.

 

There are special rules for animal by-product waste, so ensure you ask questions when you are contracting the services of your waste contractor. Records of the removal needs to be recorded and retained on file for this type of waste.

 

No matter what waste you are having removed, make sure the contractor is licensed to remove it.

 

Waste contractors need to provide you with their license which shows the type of waste removal they are carrying out for you. They will probably not provide it, unless you ask for it, so it is your responsibility to obtain it. Once you have a copy of the license, which needs to be renewed annually, retain it on your files. You will need to show this to your auditor.

 

You can check if your waste carrier is registered to remove waste on the Environment agency register:

https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

 

Bin Type & Location

All internal bins on site should be foot operated and lined.

 

All external bins should be lidded to prevent pest access. The lids should remain closed all of the time except when in use, this means when someone is physically putting waste in, after which they should close the lid straight after. This external area is the most likely point to have pest problems, you need to control it!

 

Bins should be located at every hand sink for paper towels.

 

Other waste bins need locating at the points where waste exits the process. This could be food waste or packaging waste.

 

It is a good idea to have colour coded bins for the different types of waste, such as food waste, cardboard / paper, plastic waste. You could even have them labelled up for the type of waste to make it really clear for staff members.

 

There should never be an accumulation of waste build up, internally or externally. There should be sufficient resource to ensure the bins are emptied on a regular basis. If you notice the bins are filling up more quickly, ensuring that they are removed more frequently, is essential. This might be either by staff in house, or by the waste contractors attending your site more frequently.

 

Cleaning

All waste bins, and the external waste area, should be documented on a cleaning schedule. You need to set a suitable frequency for cleaning them. Record it has been completed on a cleaning record. Whether this is done in house or externally, you need to show evidence of cleaning to your auditor.

 

Ensure bin cleaning is carried out at the end of the day when other cleaning has been completed.

 

Waste Removal Routes

Think about how you are removing waste from your site, and the route it will be taking. You need to ensure when you are removing waste that it is not causing contaminate to any ingredients or products being prepared.

 

In an earlier week, we spoke about having a site plan for layout and flow.

Week 4 Contamination & Cross Contamination Prevention

•             Layout & Flow - Site Plan

 

This is a really useful way to design the routes of everything which move around your site. It will show where the cross-contamination points are and can help you decide a suitable route for waste, along with people movement, ingredient movement, allergen movement etc.

 

Waste Control Work Instruction

Once you have decided all of the above, you can put a Waste Control Work Instruction in place for staff members to follow.

 

This needs to include:

 

·         Not touching bins with hands where possible, use the foot operation

·         Making sure the bins are lined

·         Using the correct colour coded bins for the correct waste (if applicable)

·         Ensuring there is not an accumulation of waste, and they are emptied regularly

·         Using the correct waste route to the external bins – be specific about the waste route

·         Ensuring hands are washed after handling waste and after taking waste to the external bins

·         Ensuring the external waste bins are lidded again after use

·         Ensure all staff report any signs of pests near waste

·         Ensure waste bins are cleaned and records signed off as per the schedule

 

That’s it for now folks!

 

Have a good week!

 

If you need assistance, please feel free to contact me! On that note, that is the end of this section. Please do not hesitate to ask any questions.

 

Be careful and stay safe!

Ruth

Ruthshawconsultingltd@gmail.com

07732 966 836