Reduce Wasted Food in the State of Minnesota

 

To reduce food waste in the state of Minnesota. Food waste in Minnesota has been a problem for years so the purpose of

this bill is to reduce the amount of food wasted in Minnesota so that people who can’t afford it or have no place to get

it have a place to eat and stay as healthy as possible. The food that has not been eaten at food chains and restaurants

will be packaged and distributed throughout food banks and homeless shelters for others to eat.

 

A large amount of food(about 62%) that Minnesotans throw out could still have been eaten or donated to others in need.

Food makes up 18% of landfills in Minnesota, where it breaks down and produces methane, a greenhouse gas with heat

trapping potential 25 times greater than carbon dioxide.

 

Methane: A colorless, odorless flammable gas which is the main constituent of natural gas. It is the simplest member of

the alkane series of hydrocarbons.

Landfill: A place to dispose of refuse and other waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil, especially

as a method of filling in or extending usable land.

Greenhouse gas: A gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, e.g., carbon dioxide

and chlorofluorocarbons.

 

he funding for this bill can be produced by the MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) who is giving grants to

projects that will help reduce food waste in Minnesota.

 

If a restaurant or food chain that is located in Minnesota is caught throwing away food that could be donated they will

be given a fine of $20,00 and if the food chain and or restaurant continues to violate the penalties imposed they will

be subject to possible licensing restrictions.

 

January 1st 2028