The food waste–reduction programs implemented bythe surveyed sites were relatively inexpensive in terms ofabsolute dollars spent. All sites were able to keep theirtotal investment in food waste reduction between $10,000and $20,000 over the three-year period (Figure 5). Thesecosts consisted of purchasing smart scales or similarmeasurement technology and training staff in measurementand techniques to reduce waste. Many sites were able tokeep their total investment low by embedding food wastemeasurement into their existing operating systems. Smartscales are tools installed in the kitchen that record theamount, composition, and value of food waste with aneasy-to-use, customizable user interface. Examples of smartscales are tools sold or leased by the firms LeanPath andWinnow Solutions. LeanPath and Winnow Solutions havealso developed tools to estimate businesses’ food waste