What's happening
This bill directs the environmental conservation commissioner to study food waste initiatives in New York and provide recommendations to reduce food waste.
Why it matters
Comprehensive Review of Solutions. By mandating a study of food waste initiatives not just in New York but also in other states, nations, and sectors, this bill could help identify best practices and innovative approaches that might be adapted for local use.
Potential for Systemic Change. The involvement of all state agencies and food service establishments signals that any resulting recommendations could lead to broad policy or regulatory changes affecting a wide range of businesses and public entities.
Evidence-Based Policymaking. By requiring the commissioner to consult scholarly articles, existing laws, and real-world initiatives, the bill aims to ground future food waste reduction strategies in data and proven outcomes rather than assumptions.
Opportunity for Statewide Coordination. The study and subsequent report could serve as a catalyst for coordinated food waste reduction efforts across New York, potentially leading to environmental, economic, and social benefits—such as reduced landfill use, cost savings, and increased food donation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Study Food Waste Solutions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Study Food Waste Solutions
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Latoya Joyner
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2163
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 23, 2019
Introduced by Sen. BAILEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT authorizing and directing the commissioner of environmental conservation to conduct a study on food waste initiatives and to provide recommendations based on the study's findings
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this act, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
1. "agency" means any state department, agency, board, public benefit corporation, public authority, or commission.
2. "food service establishments" shall include, but not be limited to, the following: full-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, cafes, delicatessens, coffee shops, and cafeterias.
3. "commissioner" means the commissioner of environmental conservation.
4. "department" means the department of environmental conservation.
5. "food waste" means food that is not required to meet the needs of a food service establishment and which is disposed of in a manner such that it will not be eaten.
6. "food waste initiative" means an initiative regarding the use and/or disposal of food waste.
§ 2. Study. 1. The commissioner is authorized and directed to conduct a study on food waste initiatives throughout the state. Such study shall include, but not be limited to:
a. food waste initiatives implemented or planned to be implemented by non-governmental organizations, agencies, and other states and nations;
b. any laws, rules, or regulations proposed or implemented in any municipality; and
c. scholarly articles and proposals for food waste initiatives.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00494-01-9
S. 2163 2
2. Upon request, an agency shall provide the commissioner with information which may help complete the commissioner's study.
§ 3. Report. The commissioner shall submit to the governor and the legislature, no later than eighteen months after the effective date of this act, a report on the findings of the study as well as the commissioner's recommendations for reducing food waste within the state.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act authorizing and directing the commissioner of environmental conservation to conduct a study on food waste initiatives and to provide recommendations based on the study's findings
Purpose or general idea of bill
Given the varied initiatives to reduce food waste across the state, this bill seeks to evaluate what is working and what is not and come up with recommendations to tackle this problem in New York State.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 provides definitions for: agency, food service establishments, commissioner, department, food waste, and food waste initiative.
Section. 2 authorizes the commissioner to direct and conduct a study on food waste initiatives throughout the state and upon request an agency shall provide the commissioner with information which may help complete the commissioner's study.
Section 3 mandates that the commissioner submit a report on the study to the governor and the legislature no later than. eighteen months after the effective date of this act.
Section 4 is the effective date.
Justification
Americans waste about 40 percent of the food we purchase. There are multiple consequences for wasting food. Most of our wasted food ends up in a landfill where methane gas is generated as it decomposes in the absence of air. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, contributes to climate change. Wasting food wastes resources. Growing, packaging, transporting and refrigerating food uses labor, water, energy, and other inputs. When we waste food, we also waste these resources. In addition to the envi- ronmental impacts and the waste resources, financial resources are wast- ed. The value of uneaten food per US household is almost $1000 per veer. Due to this, several initiatives have been put in place to reduce the amount of food waste. This study will help us find what's working best so that we can implement better policies statewide.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S8693/A11171
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:. Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.