Most kitchens operate with a blind spot. They know food waste exists, they see it happen, but they can’t tell you exactly where it’s coming from or what it’s costing them.

The kitchens that have eliminated food waste aren’t solely relying on better discipline or stricter portion control. They’ve gained something more fundamental: visibility. When you can see exactly what gets thrown away, when it happens, and where it is coming from, waste stops being an unavoidable cost and becomes a problem you can actually solve.

Why tracking food waste matters (and why guesswork doesn’t work)

Every kilogram in the bin is ingredients you paid for, labor you invested, and revenue you won’t see. For a mid-sized hotel, that adds up to tens of thousands of dollars every year.

However, the impact of this goes beyond cost. Without clear data, it’s hard to make confident decisions. Because when you don’t know which buffet items drive waste, whether timing or portion size is the issue, or which menu items regularly return half-eaten, broad solutions often miss the mark. And cutting prep across the board can leave guests without the dishes they actually want.

Tracking food waste also connects your operations to wider sustainability goals. By reducing waste, you take a step toward SDG 12 on responsible consumption and production, using resources more efficiently while lowering your environmental footprint. This kind of measurable progress matters to guests, who increasingly choose hotels that prioritize sustainability.

What is a food waste management tracking system?

A waste management tracking system helps kitchens track, measure, and understand their waste. Instead of relying on gut feeling or guesses, a food waste management system captures what gets thrown away, measures it, and reveals patterns you’d otherwise miss.

It works like an extra pair of eyes in your kitchen. So instead of adding more work to your team’s day, the system operates in the background, tracking food waste automatically while your kitchen runs as usual.

How does a waste management tracking system work?

A waste management tracking system might sound complicated, but the mechanics are actually straightforward. The key is understanding what happens behind the scenes so you know what to expect when you implement one.

• Captures what’s being wasted: A smart camera system recognizes items as they hit the bin. It tells you exactly which ingredients are being thrown away and in what form. The Orbi is the only food waste tracker on the market that can recognize the waste stream – whether it be from the gastronomy plate, prep plate, or customer’s plate, the Orbi is the only tracker that will recognize it.
• Measures and tracks waste over time: The system records how much food is discarded and notes the time it happens. This builds a clear picture of where and when waste occurs, revealing trends across meals, shifts, or days of the week.
• Turns data into actionable insights: Good systems don’t just report numbers, they guide action. They link quantity, timing, and type of waste to show where change will have the most impact. For example, Orbisk AI turns this data into clear recommendations, like adjusting buffet prep on low-occupancy mornings or re-planning mise en place for salad bars. The result: your food waste becomes a roadmap for smarter operations.

All of this happens automatically while your kitchen runs as usual. Your staff doesn’t need to log anything manually or change their workflow.

What to look for in a waste management system

There are many companies that offer waste management tracking systems, but performance varies wildly across kitchens. The solutions that actually reduce waste share a few non-negotiables.

No manual logging required

If staff need to weigh and record every item, it won’t happen consistently. Service is too busy. Look for systems that capture waste automatically, so your team focuses on cooking, not data entry.

Next-day visibility – accessible anytime and anywhere

No need to pull up 15 Excel sheets or manually log everything.
…dashboards let you adjust portions and prep the next day, not next month.

Actionable insights, not data dumps

Spreadsheets full of numbers don’t tell you what to do. Good systems translate data into clear next steps: what to reduce, what to swap, when to adjust. The insights should be obvious.

Fits existing workflow

If tracking disrupts service or requires staff to change how they work, it falls apart. The system needs to adapt to your kitchen, not the other way around. Place it where waste goes, let it work quietly, and receive weekly summaries via email

How Orbisk simplifies food waste management tracking

Most tracking systems require staff training, workflow changes, and manual input. Orbisk doesn’t.

An AI-powered camera sits above your waste bin and recognizes items as they’re discarded. There’s no scanning or manual recording involved. Your staff works as usual while the system quietly captures what’s being thrown away, how much, and when.

The data appears in a dashboard, giving a clear picture of where and when waste occurs. Over time, patterns start to emerge. Certain buffet items that regularly go untouched, specific times of day when portions are overprepared, or prep habits that lead to avoidable loss. This visibility makes it easier to fine-tune production without disrupting service.

For instance, at the Hyatt Regency Aqaba Ayla Resort, the team used Orbisk data to fine-tune their buffet preparation. This led to reduced late-service refills and aligning output with demand. Using Orbisk AI, they cut food waste by nearly 40% and saved over €130,000 in costs, within just a year. All without changing recipes or compromising quality.

Start reducing waste without disrupting your kitchen

Tracking is the first step to cutting food waste, but only if it’s easy. The kitchens that reduce waste fastest aren’t the ones with perfect systems. They’re the ones with visibility into what’s actually happening.

When you can see where waste occurs, when it spikes, and why it happens, the fixes become obvious. You stop guessing and start making decisions based on real patterns. And that’s when food waste drops and savings show up on the bottom line.

Curious to know how much your kitchen could save? Orbisk shows you exactly where waste happens and what to do about it. No manual tracking. No workflow changes. Just insights and results.

FAQ

How is food waste tracked?

Waste management tracking systems use AI recognition or sensors to track waste automatically. Staff dispose of items normally, while cameras or sensors identify and measure what’s thrown away. This data appears in a personalized dashboard that shows patterns and trends.

What is a waste management tracking system?

It’s a system that measures and analyzes food waste. It tracks what gets thrown away, when, and why, giving you data to make informed decisions.

What software is used in waste management?

Cloud-based dashboards that connect to cameras or sensors. So the Orbisk software automatically captures waste data and displays it in formats that reveal patterns and suggest actionable steps.

What is an AI-powered waste management tracking system?

An AI-powered waste management tracking system uses image recognition to identify discarded food automatically. For example, Orbisk AI shows you your kitchen’s food waste and how to reduce it.