Dive Brief:
- State representative Tom Reed (R- Corning) is pushing for legislation in New York state called the Fighting Hunger Act.
- The proposed law provides a tax incentive to shop owners, restaurants and farmers who donate leftover food to food pantries. The tax deduction could be up to 15%.
- A similar incentive, adopted by Congress in 2006, expired in 2013. This legislation would be a permanent remedy, according to Rep. Reed.
Dive Insight:
As municipalities move to reduce the amount of food waste entering landfills, this kind of tax incentive could work hand-in-hand with diversion goals. The president and CEO of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier estimates that 16.8 pounds of food is needed annually in Broome County alone to feed those who need it. About half that amount was collected and distributed last year.
Food diversion is increasingly a nation-wide concern: Tompkins County, NY hopes to achieve a diversion rate of 75% by 2016 by composting organics. Food diversion is a top priority for Rhode Island, as well: The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation estimates that a 100,000-ton reduction of food waste could extend the life of a local landfill by five years.
