December 13, 2024
Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation to expand New York’s food donation and food scraps recycling program, which provides high-quality food to low-income New Yorkers. Since launching in 2022, food waste generators have successfully diverted tens of millions of pounds of food to those in need.
“No one in New York should be forced to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table,” Governor Hochul said. “Expanding the State’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law will expand access to food supplies and make sure families in need have the resources they deserve.”
Legislation S.5331-A/A.5906-A will promote the collection of more excess edible food and send more food scraps for recycling—including composting and anaerobic digestion—by gradually increasing the number of businesses and institutions required to donate excess edible food and recycle food scraps if they are within 50 miles (increased from the prior law’s 25 miles) of an organics recycler.
With funding from DEC, Feeding New York State—the state association of New York’s 10 Feeding America member food banks—has been able to increase new food donations, reporting an average of two million pounds of food donations each month. The program reached a record 32 million pounds of food since launching in 2022.
DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “New York’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law has been an outstanding success in our efforts to feed hungry New York families and reduce greenhouse gases created by landfilling wasted food. Expansion of the law will accelerate the program’s growth to bring more food to New Yorkers in need while strengthening our work to implement the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. We thank Governor Hochul for her support of this vital program and look forward to working with our state agency partners and Feeding New York State to support the 10-member food banks across the state.”
