The Covid 19 pandemic has brought to the fore front a variety of different issues in commercial and institutional foodservice. One issue that has risen to the top is the amount of waste that is generated in food packaging. But even before the pandemic, milk cartons were a significant contributor to the solid waste that is generated by schools. While common place, individual milk cartons come with some challenges. When students discard them and they are not fully empty, they make disposal difficult for custodians. Having liquids in the trash or recycling collection bags can cause spills leading to a risk of falls, as well as increasing the weight of the trash. Along with the difficulties in clean up that are presented by only partially emptied milk cartons, there is the issue of food waste. You are purchasing and serving up the same size container to all students when some of them simply don’t want a full serving of milk.
So, what’s the alternative to individual milk cartons? A Bulk Milk System.
A bulk milk system allows you to purchase milk in larger quantities and dispense it into glasses or mugs, similar to many other types of beverage dispensers. Milk dispensers can be designed with a single spigot or several spigots. At Cook’s, we most often sell a two valve Milk Dispenser and a three valve Milk Dispenser. These dispensers hold milk that is packaged in durable bags with a capacity between 3 to 6 gallons. Depending on the milk supplier for bulk milk, a bag in the box option may also exist which can make handling easier. Once the milk is loaded in the dispenser, milk can be dispensed directly into reusable cups which get washed with trays and other durable serving ware. Staff can dispense the milk for younger students, or if students are old enough, they can serve themselves reducing labor and allowing them to select the portion according to their appetite.
Schools that have made the switch from Milk Cartons to a bulk milk system have reported that milk waste is reduced between 10 to 40% because students choose the portion they wanted. While milk waste is reduced, milk consumption increases because students report that milk tastes better from the dispenser than it does from cartons. The increase in milk consumption can have a positive impact on student nutrition.
Along with reducing milk waste and increasing the amount of milk students consume, there are additional cost benefits to serving bulk milk rather than serving milk cartons. Savings cam come from reductions in garbage collection expenses, reduced milk purchases due to decreased milk waste and lower energy costs. Without all the waste generated by milk cartons, many schools have been able to downsize outdoor dumpster requirements for additional savings. There is also a reduction in floor space needed for serving milk because the dispensers take up less space than milk carton coolers and there is a reduction in costs for milk carton cooler repairs, maintenance and energy expenses. Finally, the custodial labor is reduced from the elimination of milk cartons which are a significant contributor to the solid waste that is generated by schools.
