Ann Arbor’s Zingerman’s elevates commitment to zero waste

Zingerman’s Delicatessen has announced a change to its dining areas: all of the standard trash cans have been replaced with three-compartment bins for recycling, composting, and trash.

The Deli has supported the City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County’s goals of moving toward zero waste for many years, especially an increased diversion of commercial recycling and composting.

The Deli has done its part to contribute to that effort with thoughtful purchasing decisions, like eliminating single-use plastic water bottles in favor of local water cartons, establishing robust back-of-house compost collection practices, and pioneering a returnable takeout container program.

Grant helps accelerate program

After years of behind-the-scenes work, the Deli has shifted its focus to guest-facing areas. A grant from Washtenaw County’s Waste Reduction Sponsorship helped it procure the proper collection receptacles for all dining areas and train staff on this new aspect of operations.

As Jennifer Santi, marketing and communications manager for the Deli, says, “It’s a big change to make, but initiatives like this are just part of who we are. We’re committed to continuous improvement—that includes being mindful of our environmental impact and taking proactive steps to enhance it.”

Santi noted that adding functional and attractive collection receptacles around the business was a major expense, so the Deli was “very grateful to the county for its support.”

Almost everything on tray recyclable

Almost everything on a guest’s tray is recyclable, compostable, or reusable. With so little needing to be thrown away, the Deli anticipates increasing compost diversion by 50% annually — from over 450 to nearly 700 tons –and expects to see a rise in recyclable materials collected, too.

The Deli’s focus on training will help ensure little to no contamination in its compost collection, while supporting the comprehensive education goals of the county’s program.

Education also extends to its customers, with sorting signage on the bins and a web page dedicated to waste collection.

Seeing is believing

The Deli’s half a million annual guests will have the opportunity to see the Ann Arbor community’s commitment to sustainability firsthand, as well as what might be possible in other restaurants.

Theo Eggermont, Washtenaw County Director of Public Works, says “This project blends infrastructure with community education, which is exactly the type of initiative our Waste Reduction Sponsorships were designed to fund. Zingerman’s is a highly visible and iconic restaurant that serves over one half million people annually; collecting compostable materials is a large and impactful waste diversion effort.

“The lessons learned from this project will guide our ongoing work with the local restaurant sector, helping us scale up composting efforts across Washtenaw County.”

 Visit the Deli website to learn more about its sustainable waste collection initiative.