New York City Recycling Laws

As of January 1, 2022, eligible businesses and institutions in New York are required to donate edible food and recycle organic waste instead of sending it to landfills.  

This law has been critical in addressing the issue of food waste in New York, which makes up 18 percent of the state’s municipal solid waste stream. However, New York hasn’t stopped its efforts—in fact, this state continues to tighten its regulations on food waste to reduce landfill contributions and promote sustainability. 

To do so, they’ve recently expanded their New York recycling law to further reduce food insecurity and address environmental concerns. 

Keep reading for a detailed look at New York’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law, where we’ll discuss its key requirements and changes, expected results, and tips for businesses to get involved. 

Key Takeaways

  • On December 12, 2024, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S5331A, thereby expanding the food donation and food scraps recycling program by scaling down the annual average tonnage requirement every two years until 2028. 
  • When this law is fully implemented, it’s estimated that 99% of large food scrap generators outside of New York City will manage their waste in a sustainable and sensible way, increasing the amount of food waste recycled by 42%. 
  • Restaurants and other establishments can partner with organizations like City Harvest and Food Bank for NYC to donate leftover food in NYC, ensuring surplus food reaches those who need it the most. 
  • Composting and anaerobic digestion are valuable waste management solutions, helping businesses stay compliant with food waste regulations and reduce food waste in NYC. 

Understanding the New York Recycling Law 

The NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling law originally required businesses and institutions that generated an annual average of two tons of wasted food per week or more to donate excess edible food and recycle all remaining food scraps if they were within 25 miles of an organics recycler. 

Since launching in 2022, Feeding New York State—the state association of New York’s 10 Feeding America member food banks—has collected 32 million pounds of food. As of 2024, reports indicate that an average of 2 million pounds of food donations is received every month. 

However, this is just the start. On December 12, 2024, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill S5331A, thereby expanding the food donation and food scraps recycling program by scaling down the annual average tonnage requirement every two years until 2028.  

From January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027, businesses generating one ton or more of food waste per week must participate. Starting January 1, 2028, the threshold will further decrease to half a ton per week. 

The distance requirement will also be expanded to 50 miles from an organics recycler, therefore promoting food waste recycling in New York

Phasing in the new laws over the next couple of years helps grocers, food manufacturers, universities, and other affected entities better plan their course of action while giving organics recyclers and food recovery organizations time to expand infrastructure. 

Expected Results from the New Mandates 

By gradually increasing the number of businesses and institutions required to donate, this innovative New York recycling law plays a key role in preventing food waste and bridging the gap between hunger and surplus food. 

Even more, EarthJustice calculates that when this law is fully implemented, 99% of large food scrap generators outside of New York City will manage their waste in a sustainable and sensible way, increasing the amount of food waste recycled by 42%. 

Governor Hochul comments on this, stating, “No one in New York should be forced to choose between paying rent or putting food on the table. Expanding the State’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law will expand access to food supplies and make sure families in need have the resources they deserve.” 

The Impact of Food Waste in New York 

Why are New York recycling laws important? 

Because innovative laws help address the environmental, social, and economic impact of food waste. Keep reading to learn how each of these areas is affected. 

Recyclable waste sorted into bins on a busy New York City street
Source: Pexels

Environmental Consequences 

There are various environmental concerns associated with food waste, including: 

  • Greenhouse gas emissions: When food waste decomposes in landfills, it produces methane emissions, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. In fact, for every 1,000 tons of food waste that ends up in landfills, an estimated 34 metric tons of fugitive methane emissions are released into the atmosphere. That said, improving recycling efforts—such as converting food waste to energy—helps New York address climate change. 
  • Landfill overflow: Landfills are harmful to the environment, contributing to issues such as pollution, water contamination, and as discussed, greenhouse gas emissions. By increasing New York food donation and recycling efforts, we can alleviate the pressure on landfills and promote sustainable waste management. 

The Social Impact of Food Waste 

Approximately one in four adults in New York State experience food insecurity. By donating food in NYC, businesses and households alike can help reduce food insecurity while diverting waste from landfills. 

There are various ways that you can give back to your community, including using a leftover food app in NYC, partnering with a food bank, or even starting your own program. What’s important is that surplus food is seen as a solution—rather than a problem—to help feed the millions of people suffering from hunger. 

Economic Considerations 

There are also various economic incentives to reducing waste, including: 

  • Tax deductions: Food waste tax deductions encourage businesses to donate surplus food. Companies that comply with requirements for these deductions—such as donating food to eligible organizations and ensuring that it’s used for charitable purposes—can give back to their communities while enhancing their brand reputation. 
  • Ensuring compliance: By complying with New York City recycling laws, companies can reduce the risk of fines and legal consequences. As an added bonus, staying compliant can increase operational efficiency and enhance your brand image. 
  • Reducing waste disposal costs: With waste disposal costs continuing to rise in NYC, one of the benefits of reducing food waste is that businesses can enjoy lower disposal costs. Companies like Shapiro provide organic waste management solutions to streamline this process, ensuring you reduce your environmental footprint while staying compliant. 

How Businesses Can Adapt to the New York Recycling Law 

To comply with the expanded New York City recycling law, businesses must improve their donation and recycling efforts. Here are some valuable tips for accomplishing this: 

Volunteer sorting and organizing recycling bins for waste management.
Source: Freepik

Partnering with Food Donation Programs 

Donating food is among the top preferred methods in the food waste hierarchy. That said, companies should consider the following tips to reduce New York food waste while improving donation efforts. 

  • Collaborate with food banks: Restaurants and other establishments can partner with organizations like City Harvest and Food Bank for NYC to donate leftover food in NYC. These partnerships facilitate donation efforts and ensure surplus food reaches those who need it the most. 
  • Use apps and other technologies: Restaurants, supermarkets, and other food-related establishments can now use food waste apps in NYC to streamline donation logistics. Food waste apps can also help businesses track food waste, sell unsold products at a discounted price, and manage inventory to reduce waste—all of which improve overall sustainability. 

Investing in Organic Recycling Solutions 

To comply with recycling laws in NYC, your company must make recycling a priority. That said, here are the two main food waste recycling approaches that businesses are adopting today: 

  • Composting: Composting food waste is an increasingly popular approach, as it turns food waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that can be used in a number of agricultural applications. There are many ways businesses in New York can get involved, such as setting up on-site composting programs or partnering with a food waste company
  • Anaerobic digestion: Large food producers can use anaerobic digestion to convert waste into biogas or fertilizer. At Shapiro, we’ll help you streamline the entire process, assisting with the collection, transportation, treatment, and recycling of all organic materials. 

Conclusion 

The New York recycling law is reshaping food waste management by requiring businesses to donate and recycle food waste. 

In addition to ensuring compliance, adhering to new regulations helps businesses minimize their environmental footprint, cut costs, and contribute to sustainability.  

If your company wants to explore food waste recycling solutions or adjust its current approach, we recommend partnering with a food waste management company. At Shapiro, we’ll create a tailored plan that fits your unique requirements, ensuring you comply with NYC recycling laws. 

To learn more about our organic waste management services, contact us today


Baily Ramsey, an accomplished marketing specialist, brings a unique blend of anthropological insight and marketing finesse to the digital landscape. Specializing in educational content creation, she creates content for various industries, with a particular interest in environmental initiatives.

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