New York State Looks To Reduce Food Waste And Its Effects On The Environment
The State’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law Officially Went Into Effect Early This Year
On January 1, 2022, the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law officially went into effect in the state of New York. Businesses and institutions throughout the state that generate two tons of wasted food per week are now required to donate excess food and recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within a 25-mile radius of an organics recycler. The latter includes both composting facilities and anaerobic digesters. Although the law was originally passed as part of the New York State budget in 2019, it is now being officially enforced throughout the state.
The New York state law is intended to curtail the growing amount of food going to waste in the state. It is estimated that more than 7.8 billion pounds of food goes to waste each year in the state. This also generates more greenhouse gas emissions than 4 million vehicles driven annually.
New York City, which already has a local ordinance in place requiring the diversion of food scraps from disposal is exempt from this law, as are farms and institutions, including hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities and schools.
The new law is very precise in its classification of the food recovery hierarchy. It includes solutions for food rescue and encourages food waste prevention. The law requires all designated establishments to separate wholesome food and offer it for donation.
On the subject of food rescue, the
new law requires all designated generators to separate wholesome food and offer it for donation. The law also requires the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to create educational materials on food waste prevention and encourage municipalities throughout the state to share this information with their constituents.
New York State has also allocated funding that supports food waste efforts in the state from prevention through recycling. Special funding has also been designated for the food rescue community in the state to improve their infrastructure. This includes adding refrigerated trucks and storage areas, where needed for increased volume of donations they will be receiving.
No matter if you’re managing a restaurant, grocery store or other food service establishment in New York State or anywhere else in the United States, Waste Cost Solutions is here to assist you with your waste management, food waste and recycling issues. Our team of waste management experts regularly monitor new city, county and state regulations and ordinances. We promptly inform our clients of these changes and advise them about what is necessary for them to be compliant. What’s more, we will also report to the municipalities on our clients’ behalf to inform the government offices what our clients are doing to become and stay in compliance.
Waste Cost Solutions is here to assist you with any waste management concern you may have, including, waste and recycling issues, compliance matters or other facilities service solutions. Whether your establishment needs window cleaning or repair, exterior and interior painting, air conditioning replacement or repairs, bulk pick-up, an emergency dumpster or if you’re looking to adhere to a local city ordinance, Waste Cost Solutions is here to assist you every step of the way. Contact us today at 800-509-5399 or email us
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