Bill > S3443

This bill, titled the "Zero Food Waste Act," mandates the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a program offering competitive grants to eligible entities—which include state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments, as well as nonprofit organizations—to reduce the amount of food waste, defined as uneaten food and inedible food parts, by 50 percent by 2035 compared to 2015 levels. These grants can fund activities such as studying food waste generation, developing plans for waste reduction, collecting and reporting data on food waste, and implementing projects that prevent, rescue (redirect surplus food for consumption), upcycle (create new food from ingredients that would otherwise be wasted), or recycle (reuse food waste for nonfood products) food waste, with a priority on prevention. The bill also allows grants for implementing policies like differential pricing for food waste disposal to discourage landfilling or incineration, and for technical assistance. Special provisions are included for anaerobic digestion projects, requiring plans for end-product recycling and limiting the use of animal waste in the feedstock. The EPA Administrator will report annually to Congress and the public on the program's effectiveness, and $650,000,000 is authorized for appropriation each fiscal year from 2026 through 2035 to carry out these provisions.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3443/all-info