The NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law is expanding, starting January 1 2027.
Effective January 1, 2022, businesses and institutions that generate an annual average of two tons of wasted food per week or more must:
- donate excess edible food; and
- recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within 25 miles of an organics recycler (composting facility, anaerobic digester, etc.).
Effective January 1, 2027, businesses and institutions that generate an annual average of 1 ton of wasted food per week or more must:
- donate excess edible food; and
- recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within 50 miles of an organics recycler
Effective January 1, 2029, business and institutions that generate an annual average of 0.5 tons of wasted food per week or more must
- donate excess edible food; and
- recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within 50 miles of an organics recycler
This law does NOT include:
- New York City (which already has a local law in place requiring the diversion of food scraps from disposal)
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Adult Care Facilities
- K-12 Schools
