Effective policy at the state level is a critical lever for reducing food loss and waste, and state legislative bodies have been busy over the past months and year introducing and passing policies tackling food loss and waste. Since January 2022, states have introduced or actively carried more than 70 bills on food loss and waste, 14 of which passed. (A roundup of all 2021 bills is available here). Proposed bills were concentrated around funding and research, and many donation liability protection and tax incentive bills passed. ReFED in partnership with the Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) has been tracking legislation related to food loss and waste and also publishes the ReFED Food Waste Policy Finder which explores current laws related to five policy areas that influence states’ abilities to reduce food waste. This article highlights recent successes, as well as a variety of bills still active in state legislatures that are being tracked closely – as well as some particularly innovative and interesting bills. More >>
