Reducing the amount of food waste that goes to landfills could save as much as $22 million annually across the state and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a study says. The report issued by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority says the benefit would come if large generators of food waste donate edible food and send food scraps to organic recycling centers.
The findings support the New York State Food Recovery and Recycling Act proposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, which would require that to happen starting in 2021.
Blueprint
The report, “Benefit-Cost Analysis of Potential Food Waste Diversion,” analyzed the potential benefits of requiring large generators of food waste outside of New York City and located within 50 miles of a food waste management facility “to divert from their current disposal practices,” a NYSERDA press release said.
“The report provides a blueprint for reducing disposal costs and making our environment cleaner and healthier,” NYSERDA President and CEO John B. Rhodes said in the release.
At present, the report says, “an estimated 4 million tons of excess food, edible food not sold or used by its generator, and food scraps, inedible food and edible food not donated, are generated annually in New York state. “Each year, more than 97 percent of these food wastes are landfilled or combusted increasing emissions of harmful methane gasses.”
Cut Emissions
In New York state, excluding New York City, nearly 1,700 large food waste generators produce at least 2 tons of food waste per week, according to the release, producing 416,600-plus tons of food and food scraps annually, “amounting to 8,000 tons weekly, some of which is still edible and safe for consumption,” it said.
The study found greenhouse gas emissions could be cut by 175,448 metric tons per year if food scraps were either recycled or sent to compost or anaerobic digester systems — that would be like taking 37,093 cars off the road, the release said.
Funding
To encourage food waste recycling, Cuomo’s Executive Budget proposes $3 million for municipalities for food donation and recycling projects. As well, the release said, the State Department of Environmental Conservation “is proposing revisions to the municipal recycling grant program to fund priority projects, such as addressing food waste.”
Empire State Development would provide $1 million in grants to expand cold storage capacity at food banks, as well as $2 million in grants over three years to large generators to implement recommendations from waste audits, such as to purchase storage bins and coolers for food donation, and to improve, and expand onsite composting.
DEC has also awarded more than $3.7 million to help municipalities update recycling infrastructure through Climate Smart Communities program awards, the release said.
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