Males vs. Females Regarding Food Waste,

This topic submitted by Elle, Collette, Amelia, Scott, & Ed ( gerdemlm@muohio.edu ) on 10/14/04 .

Natural Systems 1 Syllabus---Western Program---Miami University

INTRODUCTION:
The purpose of our study is to see if there is a significant difference between the reaction of males and females to written statements regarding food waste. We strongly believe males and females will react in different ways to various statements. The topic of food waste was chosen in order to test this prediction, because it deals with social, economic, and environmental issues.
Socially, food waste could result from the various dieting phases of today's society. More and more people are attempting to diet, largely due to fads such as the Adkins low carbohydrate diet and the South Beach diet. Wasting this food and paper greatly effects the environment. Massive amounts of food are dumped into landfills daily. On an economic level, as the amount of waste increases and we continue to count on landfills as our waste disposal sites, the cost of land filling our garbage is going to increase, eventually forcing businesses and residents to pay higher disposal fees. This is because the landfill space is decreasing and becoming more and more valuable because there is less of it. Also, it takes a substantial amount of trees to create paper towels and napkins that we use everyday. For example, it takes six trees to make three large packs of napkins, which puts a slight perspective on the impact humans are having on the environment.
Measuring food waste proves to be a sufficient way to test the social, economic, and environmental awareness and tendencies between males and females. The study will measure the difference between the reactions of males versus females to awareness statements regarding this issue. We predict that if we measure the amount of food and paper waste of males and compare it to that of females, we will find that females will waste less after viewing these messages because they are more aware of their uneconomical habits. Studies have shown that women are more attune with their bodies, the environment, and the effect they have on their surroundings. This causes females to have a greater reaction to factual evidence or messages that provoke logical consideration of their impact on the world. We plan to test the soundness of this argument in our study.
Throughout our process, we hope to make students aware of the amount of food they are wasting, as well as the effects it has on the world, both environmentally and economically. We intend to better inform both males and females in order to allow them greater decision making skills while choosing food. This in turn will help to reduce food wasted when people are dieting by starting with less food on their plate, and to lessen the high cost of uneaten food or unused paper products. It will also help to clean the environment, lower the amount of waste entering landfills, and protect forests of trees from demolition.
In addition to solving problems regarding food waste, we hope to gain a better understanding of the psychological differences of the two genders. We know that both require different amounts of food, however, we want to know which will be more savvy when it comes to cleaning up their habits. Researching this project in attempt to understand the differences in males and females is very interesting to us. Daily, we see the amount of food wasted in our dining halls; therefore, we would like to see if there is a substantial or insignificant change before as opposed to after students are exposed to our written statements posted in the dining hall.
College campus "all you can eat buffet" dining halls are perfect grounds for high amounts of food waste. They have unlimited portions as well as vast food choice. For these reasons, the figures of uneaten food that goes to waste are astonishing. At the "Marketplace," a buffet style dining hall at Northern Michigan University, a gigantic total of 748 pounds of waste from food was measured per weekday in March of 2004. A slightly smaller number of 670 pounds were weighed on weekend days. Overall, these figures total to 2.5 tons every week, which produces a loss of around $9,296 weekly. At Northern Michigan, it was estimated that 38.1 tons of food was wasted during a single semester, causing a loss of $140,000.
These buffet types of dining halls tend to have a relatively larger amount of food waste compared to dining halls where individual portions must be paid for. The Marketplace had an average of 9.4 ounces per student, for two meals, while the second type of dining hall at Washington State University had 8.8 ounces.
When Miami University tested for their own figures, they used a secret weigh in on December 2, 2003. With this test they collected a range of 103.5 to 34.5 pounds. Martin and Erickson dining halls, both had the largest total of 103.5 pounds, Harris collected 55 pounds, Hamilton had 43 pounds, while the lowest amount of waste came from Alexander dining hall with 34 pounds.
Next, from January 6th to February 9th, the University displayed an add campaign with messages such as, "You can always come back for more at buffet halls," "Take smaller portions," "Eat what you take," and "Ask if samples are available at a la carte locations." For paper waste, they advertised with "Take only the napkins you will use" and facts such as "If everyone in the U.S recycled 1/10 of their newsprint, we would save the estimated equivalent of 25 million trees a year."
At all but one dining hall, the amount of waste decreased during a final secret weigh in, after the add campaign. Martin decreased 26.25 pounds (25%), Hamilton decreased 13 pounds (31%), Harris decreased 1 pound (2%), while Alexander increased 43.4 pounds (56%).
While all of these statistics and tests are interesting, we feel that testing the reactions of males versus females to messages informing them about food waste will add a new perspective and possible understanding of who is wasting more and why. Most other studies surveyed a mass population by analyzing the amount of food waste before and after students viewed the messages. We hope to use this as the base for our study, adding in the psychological elements that may cause males and females to respond and react differently to the same statements.

METHODS & RESEARCH DESIGN:
Materials:
o Colored pieces of paper (two colors)
o Large trash cans, with bags (2)
o Scale
o Bucket of water of known volume and bottom area
o Printed signs on colored paper
o Apron
o Hairnet/hat
o Scraping implement

PROCEDURE:
The first phase of our experiment will consist of data collection. A team of two of our researchers will wait inside Alexander Dining Hall to determine how much food is wasted by students. This will occur five times, once for each day of the normal school week, at dinner time (5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M.). One of our researchers will stand just outside the tray collection conveyor and place a colored slip of paper onto each tray as it goes into the conveyor. One color will represent males and the other will represent females. These colors will be selected to portray an arbitrary association (for example, we will not be using pink papers for girls and blue for boys) in order to prevent contamination of the data. If asked why he or she is placing pieces of paper on trays, the researcher outside the tray conveyor will simply reply that it is part of their Natural Systems study, revealing little if any information about its nature. He or she will also keep a record of how many trays come through for each gender. Once 100 trays have been recorded for a gender, the researcher will cease marking trays for that gender. Once 100 trays have been recorded for each gender, data collection will be finished for the day.
On the inside of the conveyor, a researcher (wearing an apron and hairnet to keep clean and prevent any contamination of the data) will wait for the trays with slips of paper on them to come through. Once they come through the conveyor, the trays will be divided by the color of paper, and the food waste scraped into one of two garbage cans, according to gender. The person on the inside will also count the number of trays to come through for each gender, in order to double-check the outer researcher's counting.
Once 100 trays have been collected for each gender, the data will be measured. The amount of waste will be evaluated in two ways. First, the trash bags will be placed on a scale to determine their weight. Secondly, the volume of the trash bags will be measured by submerging the filled portion of the trash bag in a bucket of water, measuring the rise in water level. We will multiply this rise by the area of the inside of the bucket (pi multiplied by the radius squared) to obtain the volume of the waste collected. The weight and volume of waste collected will be put into a table, summed, and later evaluated through statistical tests to determine whether there is a significant difference in the amount of waste generated between the genders.
Phase two consists of another data collection routine. This time, however, we will be placing a new variable into the system. Our group will design an array of signs to promote the ideas of waste reduction in a dining hall environment. These will be designed to remove as much bias as possible by putting forth neutral messages such as, "You can always go back for seconds," "Are you really going to eat all of that?" or "Are your eyes bigger than your stomach?" Once the proper messages have been determined, these signs will be printed up on colored paper and placed in numerous conspicuous but unobtrusive locations throughout Alexander dining hall. Signs will be placed near where food is served initially, near the tray conveyor, above the salad and/or fruit bars, and near the ice cream/dessert machines.
The data collection procedure will then be repeated, with one researcher outside the conveyor marking trays, and another researcher inside collecting the waste itself. Again, this data collection will occur five times, once for each day of the week, during the dinner hours at Alexander. The bags of trash for each day will be weighed and have their volume measured each day. Again, this data will be summed and tabulated, then evaluated for statistical significance between genders.
The last step of our experiment will be to survey twenty-five males and twenty-five females to see if the posters had an effect on them. We will ask if they noticed the posters, if so, did the messages have any effect on them, and if the answer is yes, which poster had the greatest impact. By asking these questions we can measure the initial awareness of males compared to females by finding out who noticed the posters. Finally, we will assess our data and compare it to the surveys to reach our final conclusion.

In order to assess whether our data is significant, we will perform a series of statistical tests. A T-test will be performed and P-value will be acquired and evaluated to determine the significance of the data obtained. However, we must consider critical variables in our assessment of the data. Some variables to consider include, but are not limited to the following:
1) The food served for dinner could cause people to waste more or less based on whether they like, dislike, or are familiar with the food selection.
2) Extraneous circumstances such as pressures from school, home, seasonal changes, or others could cause people to desire to eat more or less, resulting in an effect on food waste.
3) General variation in subjects tested could be caused by timing in schedules of different types of people who eat at different times of the day.
4) Subjects realizing the nature of the study throughout the process of gathering data could result in increased awareness of food waste before the signs have been posted. All of these variables must be considered along with the fact that there are possibly many more critical variables, which we are unaware of. We will attempt to reduce the significance of these critical variables by gathering data in spurts over a period of time.

Males: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Total
Average
Mass (grams)
Average
Volume (liters)
Females:
Average
Mass (grams)
Average
Volume (liters)

Average Amount of Food Wasted at Dinner Before Waste Minimization Signs (control)

Average Amount of Food Wasted at Dinner After Waste Minimization Signs
Males: Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Total
Average
Mass (grams)
Average
Volume (liters)
Females:
Average
Mass (grams)
Average
Volume (liters)

TIME TABLE:
Oct. 7 to 14:
Finish up all research, gather materials, and finish negotiations with kitchen staff
Oct. 18 to 22:
First week of control data collection
Oct. 23 to 27:
Organizing data, printing up information on flyers
Oct. 28 to Nov. 9:
Campaigning for food waste reduction
Nov. 15 to 19:
Second week of gathering data
Nov. 20 to 24:
Analysis, interpretation of data

OUR DAY:
First we will introduce our lab, giving the class a general idea on what we will be studying. We will talk about the War on Waste efforts on campus, as well as basic research for campus waste reduction. Next, we plan to have a focus-group session in which we will show classmates the different propaganda, such as table tents and posters, and ask them which messages affected them most strongly, and why that might be. If we notice a differentiation in the responses among males and females, we will ask why this is. A slight problem with this presentation is that it will alert more students to our secretive study, which might skew the results. Another difficulty is the fact that what people say is not always what they do. Students may feel like a message affects them, yet if they were put into the dining hall situation they would waste just as much. Also, in the cafeteria, we will not be presenting the messages in such a direct, response-demanding fashion; although, we will still have comparative responses at Alexander. Moreover, the strongest message in the class will likely be the strongest in Alexander.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Carlino, A. (2003). "Improving Quality Through Waste Elimination." Manufacturing
Engineering, 131(3), 14.
Provides commentary and suggestions for reduction of waste in the manufacturing process. Has good efficiency ideas.

Crittenden, B., & Kolaczkowski, S. (1993). "Clearing a Path to Waste Minimization." Process Engineering, 74, 21-22.
Environmental approach and consideration to waste reduction. Calls for minimizing environmental impact by using specific techniques.

DeBell, J. (1994). "Coming of Age: Recycling on Campus." Resource Recycling, 13, 44. Proposes various methods of recycling on college campuses. Discusses cafeteria waste ideas.

European Community (1996). "Communication from the Commission on the Review of the Community Strategy for Waste Management; Draft Council Resolution on Waste Policy." COM Documents, Commission of the European Communities,
Reviews current waste pickup and recycling methods. Has suggestions for creative alternatives to disposing.

Iken, M. J. (1994). "Targeting school cafeterias." BioCycle, 35, 77-78.
On composting waste from school cafeterias and educating students on reuse.

Handel, B. V. (2004). "Quantifying Food Residuals in Campus Cafeteria." BioCycle, 45(3), 43-44.
Northern Michigan University study on waste reduction and waste composting. Emphasizes minimization of composting, proposes.

http://bll.epnet.com/citation.asp?tb=0&_ug=sid+E7AE339C%2DDEFC%2D43F1% 2D99D7%2D00E3885EB210%40sessionmgr3+B571&_us=SLsrc+ext+30AB& usmtl=ftv+True+137E&_uso=hd+False+db%5B0+%2Dbuh+C5AC&bk=S&E SCOContent=ZWJjY8Pr5HePprRrvtnza6Gmr3%2BPp7SFoai5gKaWxpjDp KEn6axhKKqrbjQ3%2B151N7uvuMA&rn=&fn=&db=buh&an=8767385&sm &cf=1 (2002). "EPA Rewards Wise Waste-Makers for Getting Green." Waste Age, 33(12), 16.
Reviews companies that have been rewarded for reducing waste and creating innovative solutions to reuse materials. Contains waste conservation ideas.

http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/publications/default.asp?pubid=17. Integrated Waste Management Board. (1992). "Restaurant Guide to Waste Reduction and Recycling: Food for Thought." California Environmental Protection Agency. Sacramento, CA.
Information on economic and other problems associated with food waste and landfills.

http://www.fao.org/Gender/en/env-e.htm. (2004) "Gender and Food Security." Examines differences in gender and eating/conservation habits.
http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/Y3969E/y3969e03.htm. (2004). "Food and Nutrition."
Compares the male and female role in providing, eating, and saving food.

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/09/296625.shtml. (2004). "US: Food Waste and Hunger Exist Side by Side."
Examines the distribution methods of excess food. Also, looks at health concerns.

http://www.utoronto.ca/waste-econ/GenderBook.pdf. "Gender and the Waste Economy." (2003).
Considers economical waste prevention, reduction. Which sex wastes more and why.

http://www.genderandtrade.net/EconoLit/waterfs03.pdf. "Gender, Water, and Trade." (2002).
Looks at possible manipulation of crisis areas by corporations. Also, looks at the gender differences in this manipulation, amount of conservation.

Miller, C. (2003). "Measure for Measure." Waste Age, 34(12), 84.
Debates the EPA's methods of measuring waste. Explores various methods for measuring waste.

Miller, C. (2003). "More is Less." Waste Age, 34(1), 24.
Debates modern waste reduction claims that we are wasting less. Discusses our modern awareness of waste.

"Symposium on Food Industry Wastes, Disposal and Recovery" (1980). Food industry wastes, disposal and recovery. Applied Science Publishers. London, New Jersey.
Multiple-sourced evaluation of current waste systems. Contemplates ideas for reuse.

Tuwiner, Sidney B. (1974). "Improvement of treatment of food industry waste". Washington: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development.
Contains ideas for use of wasted food, recycling, composting ideas.

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