Ideaz

One of the most significant real-world issues that we deal with today is food waste, and it's something we witness on a daily basis in our own college cafeteria. Plates are frequently left half-full, and significant portions of prepared meals are discarded. This not only wastes money and resources, but it also contributes to environmental problems such as climate change due to landfill emissions. That is why I think addressing food waste on campus is a significant problem to solve

Gaps in the current solutions/market:-

Cafeterias usually do not keep proper food waste statistics.
Existing solutions are primarily based on composting, rather than prevention.

Students don't know their individual contribution to waste.

There are limited tools to enable kitchens to forecast demand effectively in real time.

Who stands to benefit?

Students → More sustainable campus, possible discounts/rewards for minimizing waste.

Universities → Savings on food purchase and disposal, enhanced reputation for sustainability.

Community & Environment → Lower landfill waste, decreased carbon footprint, possible donations to local food banks.

Why this issue is important to you?

As a student, I’ve noticed how much uneaten food gets thrown away in the cafeteria every day. It made me realize how much money, effort, and environmental resources are wasted. Solving this problem would help not just our university, but also the planet.

Technical details:-

Smart Cafeteria App/System:
Students pre-order or indicate meal preferences, helping kitchens predict demand.

Cafeteria staff input data on leftover/wasted food → system generates reports and trends.

AI/ML model recommends portion realignment and menu planning.

Gamification: Students are rewarded with points or discounts for completing meals, minimizing waste, or donating unused portions.

IoT Smart Bins: Waste bins have sensors that weigh food discarded
→ Data is fed into dashboard for staff.