Food Waste

District of Columbia Bill B26-0687 on School Food Waste Separation and Composting

In May 2026 the District of Columbia Council introduced Bill B26-0687, the School Food Waste Reduction and Composting Act of 2026, to mandate food-waste separation and organics collection in public and charter school meal programmes. If adopted, DC public schools and their food service vendors will need to plan infrastructure, contracts, and food-donation and reporting processes ahead of the proposed 1 January 2027 start date for mandatory organics separation.

21 May 2026, 06:52lims.dccouncil.govUnited States

Norway (Landbruksdirektoratet) Announces 01 May 2026 Food Waste Reporting Deadline for Green-Sector Packers and Raw-Material Receivers

Norway’s Landbruksdirektoratet requires packers and raw-material receivers in the green sector to submit annual food-waste data for fruit, berries, vegetables and potatoes, with the current reporting cycle due by 1 May 2026. This recurring obligation under the national food-waste reduction agreement means affected operators should confirm coverage, ensure robust measurement of waste flows, and plan timely completion of the Nettskjema survey.

3 May 2026, 07:22landbruksdirektoratet.noNorway

Wisconsin DNR Schedules 7 May 2026 Waste Study Group Meeting on PFAS, Batteries and Waste Fees

Wisconsin DNR’s Waste and Materials Management Study Group will meet online on 7 May 2026 to review proposed changes to non-landfill solid waste licensing fees and provide updates on PFAS, battery and food-waste legislation and implementation timelines. For waste operators and product stewards active in Wisconsin, this signals forthcoming implementation steps and potential future rulemaking strands, making the meeting a useful early opportunity to track timelines and engage with the regulator.

30 Apr 2026, 06:44dnr.wisconsin.govUnited States

New Jersey DEP Releases 2026 Food Waste Progress Report and Highlights New Food Waste Strategy Law

New Jersey DEP has released a 2026 progress report showing a 14% reduction in statewide food waste since 2017 and detailing how the Food Waste Reduction Act and the newer Food Waste Reduction Strategy law are being implemented. Large food waste generators and solid waste districts in New Jersey should expect tightening expectations to donate, compost or anaerobically digest surplus food, meet 50% reduction targets by 2030 and 2035, and comply with upcoming tiered permitting for organics recycling infrastructure.

29 Apr 2026, 18:06dep.nj.govUnited States

Virginia Enacts SB226 On Local Organic Waste Separation And School Composting Infrastructure

Virginia has enacted SB226, empowering localities to require large generators of organic waste to separate and divert that waste, establishing civil penalties, signalling expectations for school waste-disposal infrastructure, and expanding a DEQ litter-tax study to cover composting and PFAS in compost. This creates new options and potential future mandates for supermarkets, cafeterias, schools, and waste contractors in Virginia to invest in composting and collection systems while highlighting PFAS in compost as a likely focus for future regulatory controls.

28 Apr 2026, 19:57lis.virginia.govUnited States

Virginia Enacts HB1011 on Organic Waste Separation and School Compost Infrastructure

Virginia has enacted HB1011, enabling local governments to mandate separation and composting of large quantities of food waste, steering schools toward dedicated organics infrastructure, and directing DEQ to study PFAS and other composting issues. Large food-waste generators and composting providers in Virginia should anticipate more local ordinances, infrastructure investments, and potential future controls on PFAS in compost, and start planning for organics diversion and reporting expectations.

28 Apr 2026, 11:50lis.virginia.govUnited States

Brazilian Committee Backs Optional Green Coconut Reverse Logistics Under National Solid Waste Policy

In April 2026 Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies Urban Development Committee backed an amendment to the National Solid Waste Policy Law so states and municipalities can establish selective collection and reverse logistics systems for green coconut waste. For producers and retailers this signals a potential, but not yet nationwide, expansion of reverse logistics obligations that will depend on sub-national implementation and the bill’s further progress through Congress.

23 Apr 2026, 08:33camara.leg.brBrazil

Illinois HB5541: House-Passed Bill On Organic Waste Composting And Anaerobic Digestion

In April 2026, the Illinois House passed HB5541, a bill that would overhaul definitions, permitting, and exemptions for organic waste composting and anaerobic digestion facilities under the state Environmental Protection Act. If enacted, operators of composting sites, anaerobic digesters, and farm-based organics programs in Illinois will need to reassess siting, volume thresholds, permitting status, and product quality standards to maintain compliance and capture any small-scale exemptions.

21 Apr 2026, 13:45ilga.govUnited States

New Jersey Senate Introduces S4021 on Excess Food Reduction Plans and CBT Credit

New Jersey has introduced Senate Bill S4021 to require larger in-state businesses that order or cater food to adopt excess food reduction plans and to offer a tax credit for companies that cut excess food by at least 25 percent. If enacted, this would create new planning, reporting, and documentation duties around food ordering and disposal while financially rewarding investments in composting, recycling, and donation infrastructure.

15 Apr 2026, 19:32pub.njleg.govUnited States

Lazio Health Committee Holds Hearings on Draft Regional Law 233/2025 on Circular Food Economy and Food Waste

In March 2026, Lazio’s health committee held multi‑stakeholder hearings on draft regional law 233/2025 to build a circular food economy and reduce food waste, with broad support and specific asks on data and education. For food businesses, retailers, and social operators in Lazio, this signals likely future requirements around real‑time tracking of surplus food and structured anti‑waste programmes, making it important to assess existing data systems and partnerships now.

15 Apr 2026, 14:07consiglio.regione.lazio.itIT_62Italy

France Launches PNA 4 and PNNS 5 National Programmes for Healthy, Sustainable Diets (2026–2030)

France has adopted new 2026–2030 national programmes (PNA 4 and PNNS 5) to steer healthier, more sustainable food systems, focusing on nutritional quality, consumer information, child protection from unhealthy-food marketing, sustainable sourcing, and food-waste reduction. These strategies will guide future French policy and regulatory initiatives on nutrition standards, labelling, public catering, and food-system sustainability, signalling medium-term shifts in expectations for food and beverage producers, retailers, and caterers operating in France.

13 Apr 2026, 16:40agriculture.gouv.frFrance

Oregon ODA Adopts Emergency Amendments to Onion Maggot Control Rule in Malheur County

Oregon has implemented emergency amendments through September 2026 to facilitate the disposal of an exceptional volume of cull onions in Malheur County. Affected operations benefit from increased in-field disposal capacity but must strictly follow EPA-labeled insecticide protocols for pest management during disposal delays.

9 Apr 2026, 09:52secure.sos.state.or.usUnited States

Minnesota MPCA Opens Climate‑Smart Food Systems Grants for Organics Infrastructure and Food Waste Prevention

Minnesota has launched 22.5 million USD in grant funding to expand organics composting infrastructure and food waste prevention programs through April 2026. Eligible businesses can leverage these incentives to offset capital costs for circular economy projects and align with state-level climate pollution reduction goals.

6 Apr 2026, 18:32pca.state.mn.usUnited States

Simpler Household Recycling Rules Come Into Force Across England

England has implemented the Simpler Recycling framework, mandating consistent four-stream household waste collection across local authorities as of March 2026. This standardisation aligns national infrastructure with packaging Extended Producer Responsibility and the 2027 Deposit Return Scheme, streamlining material recovery and compliance for producers.

1 Apr 2026, 19:12gov.ukUnited Kingdom

New York Assembly Proposes State And Local Government Food Waste Prevention And Diversion Act (A10752)

New York has proposed legislation mandating food waste reduction, donation, and recycling for all state and local government food service operations and their contractors. Businesses serving public entities must prepare for phased-in waste diversion thresholds and mandatory source-separation requirements that will impact future contract renewals and operational costs.

29 Mar 2026, 18:56assembly.state.ny.usUnited States

Japan CAA and MAFF To Start Food Bank Certification Scheme on 1 April 2026

Japan will implement a voluntary Food Bank Certification System on April 1, 2026, to standardize safety and governance for food donation intermediaries. This framework enables companies to mitigate liability and food safety risks while advancing waste reduction goals through verified third-party partners.

28 Mar 2026, 20:31caa.go.jpJapan

New York DEC Proposes Amendments To 6 NYCRR Part 350 On Food Donation And Food Scraps Recycling

New York is proposing to expand food scraps recycling mandates by lowering generation thresholds and doubling the required hauling distance starting in 2027. Impacted businesses must prepare for increased operational costs and stricter waste diversion compliance as more facilities fall under mandatory recycling rules through 2029.

28 Mar 2026, 20:28dec.ny.govUnited States

Virginia DEQ and Virginia Energy Open Coal Mine Methane CPRG Grants and Confirm CCAP Deadline Extension

Virginia has launched multi-million dollar grant programs for methane capture and extended the deadline for its statewide Comprehensive Climate Action Plan to June 2026. These developments shift the focus from regulatory planning to active infrastructure investment, providing significant capital for energy and waste operators to deploy emission-reduction technologies.

28 Mar 2026, 20:26energy.virginia.govUnited States

Italy Adopts Law 36/2026 Delegating Implementation of Selected EU Directives (Legge Di Delegazione Europea 2025)

Italy has enacted Law 36/2026, authorizing the government to transpose major EU directives including CSDDD, the Product Liability Directive, and the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. Businesses must prepare for forthcoming national decrees that will formalize specific Italian requirements for corporate due diligence, product defect liability, and expanded waste management obligations.

27 Mar 2026, 09:09gazzettaufficiale.itItalyEuropean Union

EFTA Surveillance Authority (ESA) Warns Norway on 2025 Municipal and Packaging Waste Targets

The EFTA Surveillance Authority has formally warned Norway of its high risk of missing 2025 municipal and plastic packaging recycling targets. Companies should prepare for intensified national waste management measures, including stricter separate collection requirements and higher costs through eco-modulated Extended Producer Responsibility fees.

22 Mar 2026, 17:04eftasurv.intNorwayEuropean Economic Area