McDonald, Ardila, Gunther, Alvarez, Eachus, Epstein, Aubry, Levenberg, Taylor, Brown K
 
MLTSPNSR
 
 
Authorizes and directs the commissioner of environmental conservation to conduct a study on food waste initiatives and to provide recommendations based on the study's findings.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A821
SPONSOR: Joyner
 
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 PROVISIONS:
Section 1 provides definitions for: agency, food service establishments,
commissioner, department, food waste, and food waste initiative.
Section 2 authorizes the DEC commissioner to direct and conduct a study
on food waste initiatives to include:
*food waste activities in other states and nations;
*municipal laws; and,
*scholarly articles and proposals for food waste initiatives.
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 year.
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:
02/24/21referred to ways and means
01/05/22referred to ways and means
Assembly: 01/09/19 Referred to Ways and Means, 06/19/18 Passed
Assembly,
06/12/18 Referred to Ways and Means
Senate: 01/23/19 Referred to Environmental Conservation, 12/12/18 Deliv-
ered to Governor, 06/06/18 Passed Senate, 06/05/18 Committee discharged
and committed to Rules, 05/10/18 Referred to Environmental Conservation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
821
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. JOYNER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Ways and Means
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 Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this act, the following
2 terms shall have the following meanings:
3 1. "agency" means any state department, agency, board, public benefit
4 corporation, public authority, or commission.
5 2. "food service establishments" shall include, but not be limited to,
6 the following: full-service restaurants, fast food restaurants, cafes,
7 delicatessens, coffee shops, and cafeterias.
8 3. "commissioner" means the commissioner of environmental conserva-
9 tion.
10 4. "department" means the department of environmental conservation.
11 5. "food waste" means food that is not required to meet the needs of a
12 food service establishment and which is disposed of in a manner such
13 that it will not be eaten.
14 6. "food waste initiative" means an initiative regarding the use
15 and/or disposal of food waste.
16 § 2. Study. 1. The commissioner is authorized and directed to conduct
17 a study on food waste initiatives throughout the state. Such study shall
18 include, but not be limited to:
19 a. food waste initiatives implemented or planned to be implemented by
20 non-governmental organizations, agencies, and other states and nations;
21 b. any laws, rules, or regulations proposed or implemented in any
22 municipality; and
23 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.
LBD02321-01-3
A. 821 2
1 2. Upon request, an agency shall provide the commissioner with infor-
2 mation which may help complete the commissioner's study.
3 § 3. Report. The commissioner shall submit to the governor and the
4 legislature, no later than eighteen months after the effective date of
5 this act, a report on the findings of the study as well as the commis-
6 sioner's recommendations for reducing food waste within the state.
7 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.