(WNY News Now) – New York – A groundbreaking 32-million-pound milestone in New York’s food donation and recycling program marks a significant win in the fight against hunger and environmental waste.
During an event at Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace in Melville, Suffolk County, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar announced Feeding New York State—the state association of New York’s 10 Feeding America member food banks—collected 32 million pounds of food since launching in 2022. Implemented under the New York State Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law, this nation-leading program helps reduce waste and climate-altering emissions caused by landfilling while providing quality food to New Yorkers in need. The latest milestone is a direct result of DEC funding to Feeding New York State to increase new food donations, strengthen partnerships with local providers, and help build stronger, healthier communities.
“Feeding New York families is critical to the long-term health and well-being of communities in every corner of our state,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “This latest milestone shows the success of New York’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law, which helps provide healthy, quality food to New York families while reducing greenhouse gases from landfilled waste. I applaud Feeding New York State, our state agency partners, and donors for this latest achievement, and thank Governor Kathy Hochul for her continued support for this vital program.”
Feeding New York State Executive Director Dan Egan said, “Today marks a significant achievement in the effort to combat food waste and food insecurity in New York. We celebrate the donation and diversion of 32 million pounds of edible food from landfills, made possible through the collaboration of our member food banks, their partner agencies, DEC, and our generous donors. This milestone is a testament to the hard work and passion that drives us toward a sustainable future and ensures that our most vulnerable neighbors have access to nutritious meals.”
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