Measure hotel food flows once, then apply the stated waste definition

This fictional hotel week records 300 kg of distinct food events, yielding a 260 kg HWMM subtotal and a 250 kg declared FLW subtotal.

State which rules the subtotals use

Hotel Waste Measurement Methodology v1.0, 2021, Tables 1–2 on PDF pages 9–10, includes external food donations, excludes internal repurposing, and excludes liquid food discharged directly to sewer without prior collection or treatment.

The FLW Standard v1.0, 2016, PDF pages 19–20 and 42–43, lets users declare material types and destinations. Food retained for human consumption stays outside its inventory. Sewer is an available destination; it is included in this example.

Record six flows for one complete week

The case covers one fictional hotel's kitchen, buffet and banquet service, and plate-return station for one fully observed week. All six flows are distinct, with no other relevant flows in those operations. Their sum is an event schedule, not hotel food purchases or total kitchen throughput.

This FLW scope includes food and associated inedible parts routed to composting/aerobic processes, landfill, and sewer/wastewater treatment only.

Donation and staff repurposing are assumed authorised and used for human consumption. All amounts are net food or associated inedible material before added water, excluding packaging and container tare. The liquid entry records food mass, never wastewater volume. The scenario grants no food-safety, legal or disposal permission.

F1 Preparation removals sent to offsite composting

Net mass: 80 kg. HWMM: 80 kg. Declared FLW: 80 kg.

F2 Unserved food discarded to offsite composting

Net mass: 60 kg. HWMM: 60 kg. Declared FLW: 60 kg.

F3 Plate-return food discarded to landfill

Net mass: 100 kg. HWMM: 100 kg. Declared FLW: 100 kg.

F4 Leftovers donated externally for human consumption

Net mass: 20 kg. HWMM: 20 kg. Declared FLW: 0 kg.

F5 Food repurposed internally for staff consumption

Net mass: 30 kg. HWMM: 0 kg. Declared FLW: 0 kg.

F6 Liquid food discharged directly to sewer without prior collection or treatment

Net mass: 10 kg. HWMM: 0 kg. Declared FLW: 10 kg.

Each method amount contributes to its subtotal. Zero excludes the flow, not its measured event.

Keep each event's date, outlet or service, net weight and unit, scale or measurement source, container tare, destination and supporting reference. Mark estimates and unresolved quantities explicitly. Use authorised site measurement arrangements; reporting staff should not improvise food handling or waste sorting.

Show both adjustments between the totals

• Listed events: 80 + 60 + 100 + 20 + 30 + 10 = 300 kg.

• HWMM subtotal: 80 + 60 + 100 + 20 = 260 kg.

• Declared FLW subtotal: 80 + 60 + 100 + 10 = 250 kg.

250 + 20 donation − 10 direct-sewer food = 260 kg. Both adjustments explain the 10 kg gap; no measured event changed. This establishes no waste reduction.

Keep F4 and F6 as separate source lines; retain F5 in the event schedule. Flag unresolved destinations or measurements before reusing an affected subtotal.

A later collector receipt for the same 140 kg supports F1 + F2. Link it to those events; adding it again would duplicate the 80 + 60 kg already recorded. For the wider matching process, see reconciling waste dispatches with vendor records.

Carry the definition with the result

Send the event schedule, selected scope, method editions, calculations and unresolved items with each subtotal. Name the covered operations and dates wherever the number is reused.

HWMM uses a 12-month interval (PDF page 7). This week is neither an annual inventory nor evidence of method conformance.

For help organising reporting inputs and evidence gaps, discuss the records available with Nitium Advisory. Food-safety decisions, legal classification and disposal approvals remain with the appropriate specialists.

Method sources checked 13 October 2026. The case and quantities are fictional; no client result or independent assurance is claimed.