How does the warmer weather affect food waste collection?
29th May 2026
With summer just around the corner, it’s time to think about how warmer weather affects your food waste collection.
While the warmer weather is something we all appreciate after a cold winter, the sunny season has a direct impact on food waste collection. Higher temperatures speed up food waste decomposition which can lead to stronger odours and, eventually, a potential pest issue.
For many hospitality and food service businesses, the summer season is the peak trading period – meaning that more food needs to be prepared and, consequently, more food waste is created. With this in mind, it’s crucial to have correct food waste collection services in place to ensure cleanliness and reduce any potential disruption.
Why warmer weather affects food waste
Research suggests that over the summer months food waste increases by an average of 30%. If you’re a business who deals with food on a daily basis, this will come as no surprise as people tend to eat out more, attend outdoor events and spend more time socialising in the sun. Businesses such as restaurants, pubs and coffee shops thrive during this time of year and, as trade increases, so do food and drink requirements.
This food waste naturally decomposes quicker than in the colder months. The knock-on effect of which is the release of gases such as methane that create unpleasant smells, attracting flies and rodents as well as contaminating the area around bins. Not only are these conditions a turn off for customers, they are also damaging for the environment – as methane is 20 times more harmful as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.
The challenges businesses face during warmer months
There’s no doubt that businesses within the hospitality and food manufacturing sectors already have enough on their plates with rising overheads and tough economic conditions. But neglecting the need to plan for effective food waste disposal simply isn’t something that companies can afford to do.
In the warmer months, businesses should work closely with their waste management provider to anticipate bins filling up more quickly, which will eventually require more frequent food waste collection services.
Another factor to consider during warmer weather is hygiene. Food waste bins that are left sitting in the sun for a prolonged period of time create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and a breeding ground for disease. This could lead to unpleasant working conditions for staff and an unwelcome environment for customers.
One way to avoid health and safety concerns is to anticipate what’s to come long before the warmer weather makes an appearance. This means arranging more regular collections, ensuring that bins are in cooler, shaded surroundings and conducting regular cleaning to minimise the spread of bacteria.
How to reduce food waste during warmer months
One way to stop overfilling the bins is to be more strategic when it comes to food waste, especially during a season that sees a lot of foot traffic. Carry out inventory management more regularly and consider implementing first-in, first-out policies to ensure that older stock gets used up before newly delivered produce. Allowing food to go past it’s use by date is both a waste of money and a big contributor to commercial food waste.
Businesses can also manage portions to prevent unnecessary waste and optimise the menu with daily specials, using up the ingredients nearing expiry date. When it comes to any surplus food, donations to local charities are always welcome and, where possible, consider composting.
It can also be a good idea to invest in smart packaging (such as vacuum sealing) which is designed to extend the shelf life of each product.
Warmer weather and the right food waste collection service
Staying on top of these seasonal challenges regarding food waste is not hard. It just requires anticipation and the right waste collection management by your side. When a reliable and, most importantly, flexible food waste collection service is in place, even the busiest months of spring and summer pose no environmental or health and safety risk.
At Everflow, our commercial waste collection services are suitable for businesses of all sizes and with tailored solutions, your business can focus on running smoothly while we take care of the bins!
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