New York has finally introduced a new food waste law, which came into effect earlier this month on the 1st January, 2022. It aims to increase food donations and see more food scraps recycled by businesses and institutions, in an effort to tackle food waste problems head on.
The new law, named ‘NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law’, will require businesses and institutions that generate an annual average of two tons of wasted food per week, to donate all excess edible food as well as recycle all remaining scraps. This is on the condition that the business or institution is within 25 miles of an organics recycler.
By introducing this law, it is hoped it will drastically reduce the amount of food being sent to landfills, as it will be used as a last resort, as well as reducing any methane associated emissions from sending food there. It will also be beneficial to those facing food insecurity in the New York state, as there will be an increased amount of food donations.
As well as New York, five other US states, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont, have all passed laws to try to keep food out of landfills. For New York, this is definitely a step in the right direction, and can hopefully set a good example for other countries.