The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will be adding $500,000 to the $1.5 million previously announced to help reduce food waste and combat food insecurity statewide.
These funds, now totaling $2 million, support the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Act, which goes into effect in January 2022, and are part of a statewide effort to increase food donations to hungry New Yorkers and encourage food recycling to help prevent the landfilling of food scraps.
"This significant boost in funding comes at a critical time when many New Yorkers are struggling with food insecurity during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic," DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos said. "In addition to helping to address hunger in our communities, reducing food waste benefits the environment by creating useful compost and decreasing the amount of materials that would otherwise be sent to the landfill, eventually creating methane gas that contributes to climate change."
Feeding New York State Executive Director Dan Egan said, "Feeding New York State and our 10 member food banks are grateful to DEC for this grant, which gives us the tools we need to educate food waste generators on their waste-reduction obligations and connect potential donors to the charitable food network. We look forward to continuing and strengthening the great partnership we have built with the DEC. Together we will reduce waste, mitigate environmental effects and, most important, feed our neighbors in need."
In January, DEC proposed new draft regulations to strengthen the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Act. These regulations implement requirements for all designated food scrap generators to donate excess edible food and send food scraps to an organics recycler if one is available with 25 miles of the generator.
According to the DEC, the regulations will drive increased food donations, helping New Yorkers in need and creating jobs to assist organizations and institutions that handle food donations. The act also requires generators to recycle food scraps by using organics recyclers such as composting facilities to reduce the amount of food scraps that would otherwise end up in landfills and ultimately produce methane. DEC is accepting public comments on the draft regulations until April 27.