Industry, Materials, and Waste Management

Food Waste Bans and Targets

Organic food waste, primarily food scraps, are often thrown away and ultimately decompose in landfills, releasing methane and potentially polluting waterways. Composting is an effective method of recycling organic waste, keeping it out of landfills and allowing it to generate value, as compost can be used to sustainably fertilize crop lands.

To reduce the amount of food sent to landfills and, as a result, produce greenhouse gas emissions, states may pass food waste bans or waste recycling laws. These policies prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste from sending this waste to landfills, subject to exceptions. These typically apply to commercial businesses and larger institutions, although some apply to residential food waste as well. Setting food waste reduction targets is another policy option states can implement to ensure more food is kept out of landfills and donated or composted instead.

States with Policy Enacted

In Progress

Partially Enacted

See States List

Key Resources

States Struggle to Curb Food Waste Despite Policies

A report that examines how state food waste policies align with the federal targets, and assesses states’ potential to reduce food waste through four policy areas: prevention (date labeling), rescue (liability protection and tax incentives), repurposing (animal feed), and recycling (organic waste bans and waste recycling laws).
2025
Source:

Policy Explainer: How States Can Cut Methane Emissions Through Food Waste Bans and Targets

An article that provides an overview of state-level food waste bans and targets to divert organic waste from landfills and reduce emissions and food insecurity.
2024
Source:

U.S. Food Waste Policy Finder

A map that includes state and federal policies to support food waste prevention, rescue, and recycling.
2025
Source:

Achieving Zero Food Waste, A State Policy Toolkit: Building and Broadening Organic Waste Bans and Beyond

A toolkit and model legislation with policy options that states can use to prevent food waste and keep food out of landfills and incinerators.

Model Rules

Achieving Zero Food Waste, A State Policy Toolkit: Building and Broadening Organic Waste Bans and Beyond

A toolkit and model legislation with policy options that states can use to prevent food waste and keep food out of landfills and incinerators.

LPDD Model Law: State Law to Divert Food Waste from Landfills

A model state law that lays out a framework by which states can divert food waste from landfills to eligible processing facilities (including industrial-scale composters) or onsite composters.
2019
Source:

LPDD Model Law: State Legislation Supporting Sustainable Management of Food Waste

A model state law that targets individuals producing food residuals and establishes state policies for the reduction of food residuals, residuals' diversion for consumption, and composting.
2019
Source:

Model Compost Rule Template

A model permit structure to develop a composting rule.

Model States

California

Food waste target – 50% reduction by 2020 and 75% by 2025, relative to 2014 levels.

Food waste ban – The state requires commercial generators of organic waste to either compost or anaerobically digest organic waste.

2016

Massachusetts

Food waste ban – The state requires businesses and institutions that generate more than 0.5 tons of food waste per week to dispose of organic material via composting or anaerobic digestion.

2014

Vermont

Food waste ban – The state has banned the disposal of food scraps and yard waste at landfills, established separate trash collection processes for organic waste, and requires all food scraps to be diverted to certified recycling facilities, including from both residential and commercial sources.

2012

Washington

Food waste target – 75% reduction by 2030, relative to 2015 levels.

Food waste ban – The state requires businesses to compost if they produce more than 8 cubic yards of food waste by 2024, 4 cubic yards by 2025, and 96 gallons by 2026. By 2027, municipalities with over 25,000 residents are required to provide curbside composting

2022

Food Waste Bans and Targets By State

Filters
Status State Sort descending Region Components Year Enacted
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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West
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Enacted
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Food waste target – 50% reduction by 2020 and 75% by 2025, relative to 2014 levels.

Food waste ban – The state requires commercial generators of organic waste to either compost or anaerobically digest organic waste.

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West 2016
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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West
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state requires commercial waste generators to recycle organic materials at authorized composting facilities, provided they generate at least 26 tons of food waste per year and are within 20 miles of a permitted recycling facility.

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Northeast 2021
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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West
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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West
Enacted
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Food waste ban – In counties with composting facilities, permanent large event facilities with a capacity of at least 3,500 people, such as convention centers and sports stadiums, must offer food and organic waste composting.

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Midwest 2024
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state requires businesses and institutions that generate the following amounts of food waste to divert food waste from landfills or incineration:

- 2 tons of food waste per week and located within 20 miles of an organics recycler, between July 1, 2030 and June 30, 2032

- 1 ton of food waste per week and located within 25 miles of an organics recycler, starting July 1, 2032

The Department of Environmental Protection may adopt composting rules for any person or facility that generates "at a single location an annual average of less than one ton but greater than 100 pounds per week of food waste" or is located farther than 25 miles from an organics recycler, no sooner than July 1, 2035.

Establishing Policies
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Northeast 2025
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state requires businesses and institutions that generate at least 1 ton of food waste per week and are within 30 miles of a composting facility to dispose of food residuals via composting or anaerobic digestion.

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Southeast 2021
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state requires businesses and institutions that generate more than 0.5 tons of food waste per week to dispose of organic material via composting or anaerobic digestion.

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Northeast 2014
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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West
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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West
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state requires those who generate more than 1 ton of food waste per week are prohibited from disposing of that waste in a landfill if there is an alternative facility with capacity and authorization to manage food waste within 20 miles.

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Northeast 2023
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state requires commercial waste generators to recycle organic materials at authorized food waste recycling facilities, provided they generate at least 52 tons of food waste per year and are within 25 miles of a permitted recycling facility.

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Northeast 2020
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southwest
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state requires food scraps generators to donate excess edible food for human consumption and shall dispose of remaining food scraps at an organic recycler, provided they generate at least 2 tons of food scraps per week and are within 25 miles of an organics recycler.

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Northeast 2019
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Southwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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West
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

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Northeast
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state requires entities to recycle organic waste at authorized composting or anaerobic digestion facilities if they are within 15 miles of an authorized recycling facility, and generate the following amount of food waste per year:

- Higher education and research institutions: at least 52 tons/year

- Other educational entities: at least 30 tons/year

- All other generators: at least 104 tons/year

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Northeast 2014
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Southwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
West
Enacted
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Food waste ban – The state has banned the disposal of food scraps and yard waste at landfills, established separate trash collection processes for organic waste, and requires all food scraps to be diverted to certified recycling facilities, including from both residential and commercial sources.

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Northeast 2012
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Southeast
Enacted
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Food waste target – 75% reduction by 2030, relative to 2015 levels.

Food waste ban – The state requires businesses to compost if they produce more than 8 cubic yards of food waste by 2024, 4 cubic yards by 2025, and 96 gallons by 2026. By 2027, municipalities with over 25,000 residents are required to provide curbside composting

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West 2022
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Southeast
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
Midwest
Not Enacted
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Food waste bans and targets include policies that prohibit certain entities that generate specified amounts of food waste (typically commercial businesses and larger institutions) from sending this waste to landfills. Targets aim to reduce total food waste by a certain percentage each target year.

Empty column
West

The State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks only passed policies and does not include bills currently proposed in legislative sessions. The website is intended to illustrate the current status of policies for each state, as well as key resources and model states for each policy.

Much of the information contained in this database is derived from the public domain, with links to resources provided. The information provided is made available solely for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Click here for full Terms of Use.

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