Sen. Brenner bill to reduce Maine’s food waste sent to Governor’s desk
AUGUSTA — Yesterday, the Maine Senate sent LD 1065, “An Act Regarding the Reduction and Recycling of Food Waste,” a bill sponsored by Sen. Stacy Brenner, D-Scarborough, to the Governor’s desk for her signature. This legislation is designed to ensure Maine’s largest food waste generators divert food waste away from landfills and toward efforts to fight hunger. The bill received unanimous, bipartisan support throughout the legislative process.
“LD 1065 is about ensuring we’re putting our food resources to good use, not left to rot in a landfill,” said Sen. Stacy Brenner. “Sending millions of tons of food to landfills, where it decomposes and releases methane, wastes valuable resources and contributes to climate change. The future of Maine’s climate depends on taking tangible steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This legislation is a common-sense step forward in addressing climate change, food insecurity, bolstering local agriculture and growing our composting economy.”
“Food waste puts enormous pressure on our environment and is entirely avoidable, especially for the largest producers of waste,” said Sen. Denise Tepler, Senate Chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee. “This bill is a win-win for the State. It increased food donations to food banks — which fights hunger — and at the same time decreases the amount of food going to our landfills.”
LD 1065 requires that, beginning in 2030, large food waste generators must, to the maximum extent practicable, donate or recycle food waste for use in food banks, agricultural activities, or organics recycling. Maine is the only state in New England without a law requiring large-scale food waste generators to divert their waste from disposal.
Maine’s Climate Council maintains the goal of state carbon neutrality by 2045. Maine is advancing many efforts to achieve its climate goals including waste reduction, transportation efficiency and green energy expansion.
LD 1065 now goes to the desk of Gov. Janet Mills, where she has 10 days to either sign the bill, veto it, or allow it to go into law without her signature.