Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, New York State will require businesses and institutions generating an annual average of two tons or more of food waste per week to:
- Donate excess edible food; and
- Recycle all remaining food scraps if they are within 25 miles of an organics recycler.
The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has compiled a list of Designated Food Scraps Generators (DFSG) (updated for 2024) that must comply with the law starting Jan.1, 2022. The DEC has also compiled a list for food scrap transporters and food scrap recyclers for DFSGs to reference.
The DEC, in partnership with RIT’s New York State Pollution Prevention Institute (NYSP2I) developed guidance and toolkits for waste generators to better understand and prepare for the implementation of the law. See the recent webinar on Effective Steps to Launch a Food Scraps Diversion Program for Businesses to better prepare for the upcoming Food Scraps Recycling Law.
A comprehensive handbook developed by NYS DEC is available for download for businesses looking to learn more about the new law.
To learn more about the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law, visit the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) site.
To learn more about what the County is doing to address food waste, visit the Food Waste page.