Department of Environmental Conservation announces major milestone in food "Trucked not Chucked"

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) —It’s Hunger Action Month and Climate Week, and the Department of Environmental Conservation along with food programs are celebrating a major milestone in New York’s Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law.

The Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law require participating food generators to donate edible food and recycle leftover scraps. Because of this continuous effort, the DEC has now surpassed the milestone it reached last year for food being donated and diverted. Also, known as food being “Trucked not Chucked”

Last year today, the DEC announced a record of 32 million pounds of food saved from being wasted.

“New York State officially exceeded 63 million pounds of food directly donated to hungry New Yorkers as part of the implementation of this effective law,” said Amanda Lefton, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

It’s more than just a law, it’s a full program bringing together the state, nonprofits, and local businesses to fight hunger and reduce food waste. Market 32 is one of the participating donors who have also done impactful work with their personal Fresh Recovery Program.

“Since the law took effect. Our Fresh Recovery Program contributed more than five and a half million pounds of food here in New York, and we’re still going,” said Jody Plonski, Senior Vice President of Operations at Price Chopper/Market 32. “Over 10 years that number has grown to 22 million pounds across all of our participating stores. That’s 18 million meals.”

When food is not consumable or cannot be used it sometimes ends up in landfills which, creates methane gas.

“One of the best things that we can do for climate change is actually diverting waste from going into landfills and instead find other beneficial reuse because that actually lowers greenhouse gas emissions and has a really positive impact on the communities,” said Lefton.

Since the law went into effect in 2022 the impacts are clear.

“We went to the Colony Town dump almost 20 times a week. So, think about that. That’s a lot of trips to the landfill right,” said Tom Nardacci, the new Executive Director of the Regional Food Bank. “In 2025, we go to the landfill two times a week. So, we’ve worked really, really hard to create ways to reduce our own waste.”

The results of this program speak for themselves. When food is recovered and not going to waste it helps put food on the table for families and that helps our environment. Officials say any business that produces a significant amount of food waste can get involved. To learn more, visit the Feeding New York State website.