DEC Announces Record 32-Million-Pound Milestone Reached in State's Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Program

New York State’s Nation-Leading Program Helps Provide Food to Hungry New Yorkers, Reduce Greenhouse Gases in Landfilled Waste

Average of Two Million Pounds of Food Donations Received Each Month and Distributed to State’s 10 Regional Food Banks

During an event at Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace in Melville, Suffolk County, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar today announced Feeding New York State—the state association of New York’s 10 Feeding America member food banks—collected 32 million pounds of food since launching in 2022. Implemented under the New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law, this nation-leading program helps reduce waste and climate-altering emissions caused by landfilling while providing quality food to New Yorkers in need. The latest milestone is a direct result of DEC funding to Feeding New York State to increase new food donations, strengthen partnerships with local providers, and help build stronger, healthier communities.

“Feeding New York families is critical to the long-term health and well-being of communities in every corner of our state,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “This latest milestone shows the success of New York’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law, which helps provide healthy, quality food to New York families while reducing greenhouse gases from landfilled waste. I applaud Feeding New York State, our state agency partners, and donors for this latest achievement, and thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her continued support for this vital program."

Feeding New York State Executive Director Dan Egan said, “Today marks a significant achievement in the effort to combat food waste and food insecurity in New York. We celebrate the donation and diversion of 32 million pounds of edible food from landfills, made possible through the collaboration of our member food banks, their partner agencies, DEC, and our generous donors. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and passion that drives us toward a sustainable future and ensures that our most vulnerable neighbors have access to nutritious meals.”

New York State’s partnership with Feeding New York State remains a model for food diversion programs. Implementation of the law and investments by New York to put the program into action helped successfully divert tens of millions of pounds of food to those in need. As of August 2024, Feeding New York State reported receiving an average of two million pounds of food donations each month. This is a significant increase from 300,000 pounds per month during the last 12 months, and the 50-60,000 pounds per month when the program first launched in October 2022. The program previously reached the five-million-pound food donation milestone in October 2023.

The New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law continues to see record volumes of food managed sustainably and diverted away from disposal at the state's largest food-related businesses. DEC provided $4.8 million to Feeding New York State and the 10 regional food banks through the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) beginning in October 2021. The funds are used by Feeding New York State to deploy staff to grocery stores, restaurants, colleges, and other food industry facilities to increase participation in the program and encourage food donations. The fund also supported several vehicle and equipment purchases for the 10 regional food banks to increase food pickup capabilities at food pantries, meal centers, and other partner agencies. The ongoing development of innovative solutions such as continuing to enable food bank partner agencies to pick-up edible food from donors reduces wasted food and lowers the carbon footprints of New York state food banks traveling long distances to transport food from donor to receiver.

New York State Senator Pete Harckham, Chair of Senate Environmental Conservation Committee, said, “I am so proud to be the Senate sponsor of this legislation that has provided significant help to New Yorkers in need while also significantly cutting emissions. By fighting food insecurity, lowering waste disposal costs and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, we're making a material difference in our communities. I commend Feeding New York State, the DEC, and Governor Hochul for their partnership and dedication to this vital work. New York State is leading the way with our model for edible food waste reduction to the benefit of our neighbors in need and our environment.”

New York State Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chair of the Environmental Conservation Committee, said, “Food is the largest component that goes into landfills and the least necessary, disposing nutritious food along with readily compostable organic waste. Feeding New York State is a nation-leading food diversion program that gives food straight to those in need through regional food banks while keeping millions of pounds of healthy food out of the landfill every month. This program coupled with food scraps recycling programs is directly impacting the largest contributor to methane release from New York landfills, proving that you can help people while achieving climate goals. Thank you to Governor Hochul and Interim Commissioner Mahar for prioritizing this important program.”

New York State Senator Mario Mattera said, “As a firm believer in the strength of our communities, I am encouraged by the milestone reached in New York’s food donation and recycling efforts. By providing resources to those in need and reducing waste, we continue to build a healthier, more sustainable future for all. It's a testament to the power of collaboration—from local providers like Uncle Giuseppe’s to the statewide efforts—that makes a positive impact on families and our environment.”

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “New York State’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law is a win-win for our communities facing food insecurity and for our environment. This program is not only just one component of the State’s nation-leading climate agenda, but it also builds upon our longstanding work fighting hunger through programs like Nourish New York, the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Programs, the 30% NYS Initiative, and so many more. I congratulate Feeding New York State, DEC, and all of the partners involved in the program on reaching this incredible 32 million pound milestone, and look forward to seeing these numbers continue to grow.”

As outlined in the draft Scoping Plan for the State's climate law, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), the release of methane from the breakdown of organic waste in landfills is the largest contributor to greenhouse gas emission in the waste sector. Actions to reduce landfilling of these organics are critical to achieving New York's climate goals. Additionally, DEC also provided $1.6 million directly to emergency food relief organizations, and $5.3 million to municipalities for wasted food reduction, food donation, and food scraps recycling programs.

Venison Donations from New York’s Hunters
New York’s hunters are reminded that they can continue to help with food insecurity by participating in venison donation efforts. Each year, DEC partners with the Venison Donation Coalition and Feeding New York State to help provide food for those in need. Through a cooperative relationship involving the New York State Department of Health, not-for-profit organizations like Feeding New York State's regional food banks, and deer processors, hunters contribute nearly 40 tons of venison each year to needy families across the state. In 2022, DEC issued more than $16,000 in hunter donated funds to Feeding New York State and more than $8,000 to the Venison Donation Coalition.

Hunters can donate their deer or part of it at a cooperating processor, support their regional food bank monetarily, or make a cash donation to the Venison Donation Coalition when purchase your hunting license to help offset the cost of processing donated venison. To learn more on how to support these programs or donate venison to help feed local families, visit the Venison Donation Coalition or Feeding New York State.

DEC Receives Hunger Champion Award
DEC was also recently recognized with a 2024 Hunger Champion award from Feeding New York State for the agency’s partnerships with the organization, their member food banks and the broader emergency food relief organization network.

For information about how all New Yorkers can help compost and take other steps to reduce waste at homes and businesses, visit DEC’s website.