State’s Food Waste Reduction Law inspired ANCA, Clarkson and the Authority to take action
SARANAC LAKE | Last month Gov. Kathy Hochul announced amendments to New York State’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law, which aims to reduce the amount of wasted food that ends up in landfills while increasing food access for all New Yorkers.
Among other regional groups advancing composting efforts in the North Country, Compost for Good (CfG), a program of the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA), Clarkson University, and the Development Authority of the North Country (the Authority) applaud the act’s expansion. The groups are offering support for affected businesses and communities so they may better understand and comply with the law.
The partners aim to expand their education and outreach efforts to more North Country residents, businesses, farmers, institutions, and organizations to reduce the amount of food scraps and other organic materials going to landfills by converting them into beneficial compost for local farms and gardens.
“By reducing the threshold of waste generation rates by businesses, the law will transition from requiring compliance by large grocery stores and college and university campuses to now also impacting many more small and moderate-size grocery stores and many restaurants in our region,” said Dr. Susan E. Powers, Director of Clarkson University’s Institute for a Sustainable Environment.
Jennifer Perry, ANCA Organics Recycling Coordinator and co-founder of CfG said, “Diverting food scraps from our already overburdened landfills is one of the easiest ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while simultaneously feeding people, saving money, building local business opportunities and creating compost that builds soil health and increases plants’ capacity to sequester carbon. It’s an all around win.”
Read the full story in the Sun Community News.