Tackling climate change and alleviating hunger: States recycle and donate food headed to landfills

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Addressing Climate Change and Hunger: States Take Action to Reduce Food Waste

In the past, surplus food in the grocery business was often destined for the landfill. However, a shift is underway, exemplified by Sean Rafferty, the store manager for ShopRite of Elmsford-Greenburgh in New York, who is now preparing boxes of bread, donuts, fresh produce, and dairy products for donation to a food bank. This change is part of a statewide program that mandates larger businesses to donate edible food and recycle any remaining food scraps.

In New York and across the United States, there is a growing awareness of the environmental and social impacts of food waste. Globally, approximately one-third of all food is wasted, and in the U.S., that figure rises to a staggering 40%, according to the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic. This wastage not only consumes valuable landfill space but also contributes to global warming, as decomposing food releases the potent greenhouse gas methane.

Emily Broad Leib, a Harvard University law professor and director of the school’s Food Law and Policy Clinic, emphasizes the alarming consequences of food waste. It accounts for 8% to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and squanders a significant portion of the nation’s water supply used in food production, much of which ends up in landfills.

Efforts to combat food waste have gained momentum in recent years. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency set a goal to reduce food waste by 50% by 2030. This objective has spurred state-led initiatives and nonprofit endeavors aimed at curbing food waste.

Ten states and the District of Columbia have implemented measures to reduce, compost, or donate food waste, with all 50 states enacting legislation to protect donors and recovery organizations from legal liability associated with donated food. States like California and Vermont have launched programs to convert food waste into compost or energy, while Connecticut mandates food waste recycling by businesses. In Maryland, farmers are incentivized with tax credits for donating food.

New York’s program, now in its second year, has made a substantial impact. It has redistributed 5 million pounds of food, equivalent to 4 million meals, through Feeding New York State. This initiative encompasses a wide range of institutions, including colleges, prisons, amusement parks, and sporting venues, all required to donate surplus food.

Despite these positive developments, there are concerns that more needs to be done to achieve the 2030 reduction goal. Advocates for food waste reduction, including Emily Broad Leib, argue for a coordinated national effort to harmonize various state and local policies. While donation programs are valuable, there’s a broader consensus that preventing food waste in the first place is the ultimate solution.

In conclusion, as the United States grapples with the twin challenges of climate change and food insecurity, the fight against food waste has taken center stage. States like New York are leading the way, but a collective effort is needed to ensure that the 2030 target is met, minimizing the environmental impact and helping feed those in need.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Food Waste Reduction

More about Food Waste Reduction

• Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic
• U.S. Department of Agriculture – Food Loss and Waste
• Environmental Protection Agency – Food Recovery Hierarchy
• Feeding New York State
• California Food Waste Prevention
• Connecticut Food Donation Program
• Maryland Farm Donation Tax Credit
• Rhode Island Food Donation Requirements