# Logging waste

Log what you throw away and why. Each entry takes the item out of stock and adds its cost to your waste total, so shrink has an explanation.

For: Admins, Managers · On: Web, iOS, Android · [Help Center](https://www.mays.app/help) › [Inventory](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory) · Last updated October 13, 2026 · Mays Team

Log what you throw away and why. Each entry takes the item out of stock and adds its cost to your waste total, so shrink has an explanation.

**Where:** **Inventory → Waste** on the web (the page is called **Waste Log**), for the location you're on. Staff can also log waste in the app with a form task (see below).

## Log waste on the web

1. Click **Log waste**.
2. Search for the **Item** and pick it.
3. Enter the **Quantity**. It's in the item's count unit, shown under **Unit**.
4. Pick the **Reason**: **Spoiled**, **Expired**, **Damaged**, **Prepared too much** or **Other**. For **Other**, fill in **Describe reason**.
5. Add a **Note (optional)**.
6. Click **Log waste**.

![The Log waste window: Sourdough loaf, quantity 1 loaf, reason Other with the description Dropped on the floor, an empty note and the Log waste button](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__waste-log__01-log-waste.d409ac48ec.png)

The entry is taken out of stock on hand straight away.

## See what you've wasted

The Waste Log lists every entry between the **From** and **To** dates (the last 30 days to start with): **When**, **Item**, **Qty**, **Cost**, **Reason**, **Note** and **By** who. The header adds them up, for example *3 entries · $12.53 wasted*.

![The Waste Log with three entries on September 24: 4 Croissants prepared too much, $5.00, note End of day; 1 carton of Oat milk expired, $3.90; 3 Avocados spoiled, $3.63, note Brown inside; all logged by Ava Admin, $12.53 in total](https://mays-uploads.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/site/help__waste-log__02-waste-log.53810c709a.png)

**Cost** is the quantity × the item's cost per count unit: its cheapest vendor price for this location, or the cost it came with from an import. An item with no price costs $0.00.

Look at the week's log once a week. If the same item is at the top every week, a lower par or a smaller batch usually fixes it.

## Log waste from the app

Staff don't have Inventory in the app, but they can log waste with a **Waste log** form:

1. An admin creates a task type from the **Waste log** preset under **Tasks → Types**. It has **Wasted items** rows with **Item**, **Quantity** and **Reason** (**Spoilage**, **Overproduction**, **Prep error**, **Dropped**, **Expired**), and **Notes**.
2. Add it to a checklist, for example at close.
3. When the task is submitted, each row is taken out of stock and appears on the Waste Log with its reason.

See [Building custom forms (Task Types)](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/custom-form-task-types).

## Good to know

- **Entries can't be edited or deleted.** If one is wrong, your next count sets the item's stock right.
- **Where waste shows up:** in the **Waste** column on the **Theoretical** page, and as the reason behind part of your count variances. See [Theoretical vs actual usage](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/theoretical-vs-actual-usage).
- **Dates:** the **From** and **To** days follow the location's time zone, and **To** starts on the location's today. Waste logged late in the evening counts on that day.
- **Who:** admins, and managers at their own locations, on the web; anyone assigned the form task in the app.

## Related articles

- Inventory: [Inventory at a glance](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/inventory-overview) — Inventory tracks what you stock, what it costs and what you use, from items and vendors to counts, orders, invoices and waste. It's part of the Pro plan.
- Inventory: [Running stock counts](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/stock-counts) — A count records what's on your shelves. Submitting it sets each counted item's stock on hand and shows how far it was from what Mays expected.
- Inventory: [Theoretical vs actual usage](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/theoretical-vs-actual-usage) — Compare what your sales say you used with what you actually used. The Theoretical page shows each ingredient's deliveries, waste, transfers and recipe use.
- Tasks & checklists: [Building custom forms (Task Types)](https://www.mays.app/help/tasks-checklists/custom-form-task-types) — Build your own task forms, like a cash count, a temperature log or a waste log, under Tasks → Types. Staff fill them in the app, and every answer lands in Task Data, ready to export.
- Inventory: [Inventory items](https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/inventory-items) — Items are what you count, order and cost, like a carton of oat milk or a pound of espresso. Each has a count unit, other units such as a case, and vendor prices.

## Still need help?

Send us a support request and a real person on the Mays team will get back to you.

[Contact support](https://www.mays.app/contact?topic=support) · [Call +1 (561) 286-3939](tel:+15612863939)

Canonical: https://www.mays.app/help/inventory/waste-log