The Department of Environmental Protection鈥檚 Division of Sustainable Waste Management has been honored by the National Conference of State Legislatures for spearheading a comprehensive and ongoing set of actions to reduce food waste in New Jersey through its Food Waste Reduction Plan, Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette announced. In presenting the Notable Document Award to the DEP, the National Conference of State Legislatures commended the DEP鈥檚 Food Waste Reduction Plan 鈥渁s innovative in providing substantive information on contemporary issues of interest to legislatures.鈥� The group鈥檚 judging panel further noted the plan could serve as a model for other state legislatures seeking to reduce food waste.
鈥淚 congratulate the Division of Sustainable Waste Management for its commitment to identifying and implementing solutions to address the problem of food waste, as acknowledged by this honor bestowed by the National Conference of State Legislatures,鈥� said Commissioner LaTourette. 鈥淣ot only is food waste the single largest component of the municipal solid waste stream in New Jersey and a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, it presents us with a multitude of societal challenges that must be addressed if we are to achieve our goals of a fairer and more sustainable Garden State.鈥�
鈥淢aking smart food decisions is where reducing food waste begins,鈥� New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn said. 鈥淥ur school nutrition programs right size meals for different age groups, reducing the amount of food used up front. Consumers can do the same by meal planning and selecting local Jersey Fresh fruits and vegetables which will have a longer shelf life in the home.鈥�
Uneaten food thrown out by businesses, schools, hospitals and residents results in wasted precious resources including water, land, energy, labor and capital. Not only are resources wasted, but so are opportunities to help those who face food insecurity.
To overcome these challenges and better protect the environment, New Jersey adopted the Food Waste Reduction Act in 2017, which outlines the state鈥檚 goal to cut annual generation of food waste in half by 2030. Following its adoption, the DEP in consultation with the New Jersey Department of Agriculture developed the Food Waste Reduction Plan to quantify the amount of food waste generated in the state based on available data and propose short and long-term actions to achieve the state鈥檚 food waste reduction goal.
Several of the plan鈥檚 solutions for reducing wasted food are currently being implemented by DEP鈥檚 Division of Sustainable Waste Management. They include:
- Coordinating with organizations such as Sustainable Jersey and Association of NJ Recyclers to promote food waste reduction strategies at the local government level
- Supporting food donation outlets
- Providing guidance on date labelling
- Conducting statewide waste composition audits and improved monitoring
- Development of a food waste website identifying actions that stakeholders and residents can take to reduce food waste
- Raising awareness on social media
鈥淚 sponsored the Food Waste Reduction Act in 2017 and am glad to see the National Conference of State Legislatures recognize the critical work being done by the Department through its implementation,鈥� said Senator Bob Smith, Chair of the Senate Environment and Energy Committee and Food Waste Reduction Act sponsor. 鈥淩oughly 30 to 40 percent of our food here in the United States ends up in the trash, wasting hundreds of billions annually. Through the promotion of more responsible habits surrounding our food, the development of food waste recycling facilities, and better guidance on food labeling we can make New Jersey a leader in tackling food waste, as this recent honor shows.鈥�
鈥淚 was proud to sponsor the Food Waste Reduction Act and am thrilled to see the progress that has been made since its enactment. Reducing annual generation of food waste in half by 2030 is an ambitious, yet achievable, goal that reflects our commitment to sustainability,鈥� said Assemblywoman and Food Waste Reduction Act sponsor Pamela Lampitt. 鈥淏y addressing food waste, we are not only conserving valuable resources but also taking significant steps towards feeding the hungry and protecting our environment.鈥�
鈥淐ongratulations to the DEP’s Division of Sustainable Waste Management for this prestigious honor. As chair of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee, I am deeply committed to initiatives that protect our environment, such as the Food Waste Reduction Plan,鈥� said Assemblyman and Food Waste Reduction Act sponsor James Kennedy. 鈥淣ew Jersey has made significant strides in its efforts to preserve our natural world. By working together, we can continue to lead the way towards a future where we waste less, and use our resources more efficiently and responsibly.鈥�