Food Waste Log
A food waste log for recording what you throw away, why, and what it cost, helping you cut waste and evidence safe disposal decisions.
The Food Waste Log is a free PDF + Editable Spreadsheet for UK food businesses with one record sheet: waste log with item, quantity, and estimated cost, reason column (spoilage, over-prep, plate waste, out of date, safety), date and meal-period columns to spot timing patterns. Download it, print it or fill it in, and keep it with your food safety records; Paddl keeps the same records on a phone with timestamps and reminders.
Every bin of food thrown away is money lost, and the reasons usually repeat: over-prepping, spoilage, plate waste, and out-of-date stock. This free log lets you record what gets thrown away, why, and roughly what it cost, so you can spot the patterns and cut them, while also keeping a record of food discarded for safety reasons.
Paddl does this automatically
Instead of filling in paper templates, Paddl generates food waste logs automatically with AI - complete with digital signatures, mobile access, automatic reminders, and audit-ready records for EHO inspections.
Why you need this
What's included
How to use this template
Log as you bin
Record waste at the point it is thrown away, not from memory at the end of the week.
Always note the reason
The reason is the useful part, because it tells you whether to change prep, ordering, or storage.
Estimate the cost
Put a rough cost against each entry so the total reflects the real money involved.
Review weekly
Look at the top causes each week and make one change, then check the log to see if it worked.
Tips for getting the most from this template
Download Food Waste Log
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Waste logged at the bin, costed by the week
- Waste entries on the app with item, quantity and reason
- Weekly totals by reason and by site
- Routine prompts so the log is kept, not forgotten
- Export for a supplier or cost review
Item, quantity, reason, cost, initials: Paddl runs the waste log as a routine entry staff make in seconds, and the manager sees where the money is going by reason and by week.
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Skip the paperwork entirely
Paddl digitises everything in this template - and more. AI-generated plans, mobile completion, automatic alerts, and audit-ready records. No printing, no filing, no gaps.