MONTICELLO, NY – Assembly Member Paula Elaine Kay announced on Wednesday, October 28 that Governor Kathy Hochul has  signed into law her legislation expanding the provisions of the state’s food recycling and donation program  pertaining to supermarkets that don’t meet the threshold to be a Designated Food Scraps Generator for  another five years until Dec. 31, 2031. Senator Pete Harckham sponsored the bill in the Senate.  

The food donation and recycling law (S.9452 / A.10344) requires that smaller supermarkets that don’t meet  the threshold to be a Designated Food Scraps Generator engage in good faith with food relief organizations  who reach out in writing asking for donations of excess edible food. In this manner, the smaller stores can  do their part to divert edible food from landfills and assist with the hunger crisis, without onerous or costly  requirements. 

“Fighting food insecurity has been a pillar of my legislative agenda since arriving in Albany, and it will  continue to be until we make meaningful progress in addressing this growing problem,” Kay said, “This legislation is a crucial tool for the organizations on the front lines of this  fight, helping ensure that more food reaches those who need it rather than rotting in landfills. I’m grateful  to Senator Harckham for being a great partner on this and Governor Hochul for joining us in this effort and  signing this legislation into law.” 

Hunger remains to be a pervasive problem in America, which has been increasing rapidly because of rising  food costs. 

An estimated 2.8 million New Yorkers—14% of the state’s population—face hunger and food insecurity each day. By extending this law, food donations to food relief organizations will increase and the amount  of food waste diverted to solid waste landfills, which create dangerous emissions, will be decreased.