[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6263825,"mediaKeyId","3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204","parentId",3100359,"title","Meal-recovery groups, food-rescue app tout prevention and donation strategies to capture prepared food surplus","audioSeconds",251,"startMs",2118000,"endMs",2369000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204&start=2118&end=2369","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204/thumbnail_2118000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6263825/New-Jersey/Meal-recovery-groups-food-rescue-app-tout-prevention-and-donation-strategies-to-capture-prepared-food-surplus","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263825-125ee6269290abf6a377b71adb3ad8b6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429403&Signature=T-thzOBiHD8pN1vNQ2YCddBRIEiGSoJei7yVlo8WzKpH6TOaiZ5RI9OXi0T57tTSn6xBFOVHxxwhfYR42pSdTWJ7vEMx8UUsy-y5bz9Q~dn9ELPmx56NPloVw90Wo5-HXGNduVAhv0QcmfKLWu1ngpGnbOS1bcfBx2GojPnt99-pfLWKxjmPqYyofFI1fmrXXAklrllK29dZz~aU8a177vQnN00zhb52bKctxn225GmYVFTXHdw4J7PrC4KZarVgN~JF4kpp9sPgLFRVg2gL501rajq8xkS6UXJwWL6nyMn9NihTkw0D0cZLt1fGnvZ0b3HCx3OrVrhcJBv-NWnP8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","New Jersey Legislature","date","2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","article","Representatives of food-rescue groups, a multinational surplus-food marketplace and corporate donors told the joint environment committees that capturing edible surplus prepared food is a cost-effective way to reduce waste and feed people.

Karen Lemon, board chair of Share My Meals, described the nonprofit’s model of collecting prepared meals from corporations, universities and hospitals and distributing them via volunteers and a tracking system that uses reusable trays and barcodes to ensure safety and traceability. Lemon said prepared-food surplus represents a significant share of the state’s generated waste and cited a ReFED-derived estimate discussed at the hearing that about 45,000 tons of food waste in New Jersey are meals — “almost 75,000,000 meals a year” — and that Share My Meals planned to scale recovery toward a multi-million-meal goal with partners.

Zach Shaben of Too Good To Go described the company’s business-to-consumer marketplace where participating stores sell a “surprise bag” of surplus food at roughly one-third of retail price; he said nearly 1,700 New Jersey stores had partnered with the platform and that they had helped recoup approximately $3.7 million in revenue for New Jersey businesses. Shaben urged policies that “prioritize prevention” and recommended standardizing date labels to reduce consumer confusion.

Meal Recovery Coalition leaders said they are developing statewide guidelines for meal recovery and training materials and that the coalition includes corporate members, hospitals and food-service companies; they urged passage of S2426, the county food-recovery planning bill, and discussed S200 (date-labeling) and S3889 (campus food-waste reduction). Speakers also suggested state tax incentives for food donation and recovery, noting 12 states already use tax incentives to support donation.

Committee members invited written testimony and copies of materials. No formal votes were taken during the hearing; witnesses asked legislators to consider both prevention-focused incentives and clarified donation guidance to remove barriers for schools and municipal programs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Environment and Energy Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - 10:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Nonprofits and private platforms told legislators that a large share of New Jersey’s surplus prepared meals can be captured through donation, markdown sales and coordinated county planning; Meal Recovery Coalition aims to scale recovery and pushed for date-label reform and tax incentives.","taxTitle","2025 Legislative Sessions, New Jersey","taxId",77696,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263831,"Anaerobic-digestion projects and wastewater co-digestion emerge as key paths to convert food waste to energy in New Jersey",1805,2775000,4580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204&start=2775&end=4580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204/thumbnail_2775000.jpg","/articles/6263831/New-Jersey/Anaerobic-digestion-projects-and-wastewater-co-digestion-emerge-as-key-paths-to-convert-food-waste-to-energy-in-New-Jersey","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263831-2e306b8fd9a5bcf7a28d887a5e772930/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429403&Signature=Bp2yri2MSda7PVWnH1acxJMkNhGnGxVjeVjg44U3aD5Hqh3WEntngmvkD7tIsXpSs4x9-Yyl-h1GHCfnValtp1p16oEZqo2IsBno2Azcxgq-GKscs0IOc59fFAa~DvpF~4lvBXJuKrOLkrRZMpYDpSW0A0fRkDmge~W4ogl1xyoJaU2m1UdkBVb59NiaY3TK79-PKstgw2xiQ8S6KdhMqfl5CQyfDYTRJsuR9kiGNob70kGQsuIQahP1A8OUMj~LNsXOsR5JNoAh6CWnIUrfikYoBx66hz8UHhTHlfIBdlauLwknxtEvuxI2Jnq0aj3zu~VqtAQKFDArgNWVqYiGPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the joint Senate and Assembly Environment and Energy hearing highlighted existing anaerobic-digestion (AD) operations and several large projects under development as pathways to increase food-waste processing and generate renewable energy.

Brian Blair, general manager of Trenton Renewables (Trenton Biogas), described his facility’s operations and said the plant is designed to produce roughly 27,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year and employs about 35 people. Blair told the committees that facility lifecycle analysis suggests “it’s 2.2 tons of CO2e for every 1 ton of food that’s entering the process.” He said AD at wastewater plants and landfills that add source-separated food waste can “super-ignite” gas production and that public–private partnerships can renovate underused public assets while saving municipal operating costs.

Gary Sondermayer and other witnesses reported that larger projects are in development: South Jersey Industries and RNG Energy are constructing a Linden anaerobic-digestion facility with reported capacity of 1,540 tons per day and an expected in-service target of about the end of the first quarter of 2026; Bioenergy DevCo plans a roughly 500-ton-per-day AD facility in Mantua Township tied to Rowan University. Witnesses said these projects could substantially increase regional AD capacity.

Panelists discussed leveraging existing wastewater infrastructure: the committee heard the example of a facility that pumps macerated food waste to the Rahway Valley Sewerage Authority to maximize renewable natural gas generation. Witnesses recommended expanding the statutory transport radius for food-waste collection from 25 to 50 miles in some rules and urged that counties or DEP assess which wastewater treatment plants could accept co-digestion feedstocks.

Committee members asked stakeholders to coordinate with wastewater authorities and to share technical and economic arrangements. No formal votes were taken at the hearing; witnesses asked legislators to consider incentives and regulatory changes that would encourage AD development while ensuring environmental safeguards.","Operators and recyclers told a legislative hearing that several large anaerobic-digestion projects are under development in New Jersey and that co-digestion at wastewater treatment plants could expand capacity quickly.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263836,"Developers and compost advocates say New Jersey’s enclosure requirement stalls commercial composting",693,5364000,6057000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204&start=5364&end=6057","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204/thumbnail_5364000.jpg","/articles/6263836/New-Jersey/Developers-and-compost-advocates-say-New-Jerseys-enclosure-requirement-stalls-commercial-composting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263836-11678064804a4bace1b7105ccb914a01/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429403&Signature=KPgCdnibemw94g~bdZXqVm5YgsBHX1eWEMR5VcjJJmA34BaI8eBNCxxoT3GDb3~8Z34xFp9rLbYgJEjA0rfSfbm6qrzNNHLJaHdZ8iFAoNbEB-ng3eQZzswUluVv7oPC6~38ZQjd1tpQbTVQuiCdZzdHLSb0yiW~t8ogmyJd9xrLg8IZ1-ghUMT8RFugwyoBfTp-y0UZcUMFA5N9dV-tRMEW7wcerMIhYWmiRXmmbJDATxDHYByRB~uaFM6ZO4nRAtaCRj8260bHkf~OL0bpe11Ip~ua6RRlVDJX4d~t776mujVhWX6LcTz7tr0wD2khu74PJACk-m9VnEQ1zhCe~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Commercial composting developers and advocates told the joint Senate and Assembly environment committees that New Jersey’s permitting rules constrain the state’s ability to expand composting capacity and that a tiered regulatory system is needed to allow smaller, lower-risk operations.

Christina Picasso Liu of Vivari Ecologics told the committees that under current recycling rules “class c recycling facilities for food waste composting must operate in an enclosed structure,” a requirement she said “is not informed based on current compost science” and which “destroys the economics of compost facilities.” She said Vivari’s application for plan inclusion in Warren County stalled after months of review and a SWAC vote against inclusion, and that her company’s petition for rulemaking to remove the enclosure requirement was denied by DEP in April 2024; DEP has since held stakeholder meetings and plans further consultation.

Matt Wasserman, vice president and advocacy chair of the New Jersey Composting Council, said the science supports open or aerated approaches for many community and small commercial operations: “The science bears out the fact that you can do open food waste composting, safely,” he testified, and described examples where community-scale systems operated without complaints. He and other witnesses urged DEP to adopt a tiered regulatory framework that would exempt or streamline permitting for small in-vessel or aerated static-pile systems at schools, community gardens and municipal facilities.

Advocates asked for clearer guidance and funding for small-scale sites, noting the state’s dense land use makes siting more difficult than in other states. Gary Sondermayer of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers said larger, centralized anaerobic-digestion projects are coming online, but “where we’re failing is at the small scale” and recommended regulatory reforms such as general permits or registrations to make local composting feasible.

Witnesses also urged DEP and counties to use the food-asset mapping tool described at the hearing to guide siting and to align local health-inspector guidance so donated prepared food can be recovered safely. The panel did not take formal votes; committee members asked for written testimony and said they expect to follow DEP’s stakeholder process.","Composting developers and advocates told a joint legislative hearing that New Jersey’s enclosure requirement for Class C recycling facilities and a stringent permitting regime are slowing development of community and commercial composting capacity.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6263840,"N.J. environment committees hold Earth Day hearing on food-waste prevention, spotlight county planning and date-labeling bills",621,0,621482,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204&start=0&end=621","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3100359-64e8707f66f3f14f83773a48d8f9a204/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6263840/New-Jersey/NJ-environment-committees-hold-Earth-Day-hearing-on-food-waste-prevention-spotlight-county-planning-and-date-labeling-bills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6263840-c5be65bc511e8be84f284f30ffd1a8b1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770429403&Signature=VNpgro40E2~qQJq8Msa5p82uFRQxjPwnKC80yx-l4OvbVRzUj3M6YgYIKqsvxfSOEopkXR4-5HUDg5B5MJDN4QmHZCk-n7jHdKfjFXTQ~lNDUGuZCoF48eHN7a5vwfUe0REZhyakn1Hgk4HLJxPUx-wxP~BMh6NTGBd0sZMZNSiRFxBCy4Fp3Z7Au0FgQRRFAwY9Y3qAWhFryrwc~~bd4RYsLy0YcGmqH5N5NRdeq1~ng43VNIg5Wy0GajMmI-qU54WdWTv1JIe5bufQqDCYZpF-jT0Wmf65fbvJyLZzdKr10Iwdguf4caI~g7mi9iwyy1nTPdZMgHz4ptD-UbWuXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A joint hearing of the New Jersey Senate and Assembly Environment and Energy committees on Earth Day focused on policy options to reduce the state’s food waste, with witnesses urging stronger county planning, more prevention measures and clearer date-label standards.

The hearing featured testimony from Dr. Serpell Yuron, director of the Rutgers Eco Complex Clean Energy Innovation Center; Sarah Elnakib, chair of the Family and Community Health Sciences Department at Rutgers Cooperative Extension; Zach Shaben, public affairs manager for Too Good To Go; representatives of the Meal Recovery Coalition and Share My Meals; operators of Trenton Renewables; and representatives of the New Jersey Composting Council and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers.

Witnesses presented statistics and policy recommendations. Dr. Yuron summarized state data, saying that “in New Jersey, approximately 22% of [the] waste stream consists of food waste” and cited 2020 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection figures, which the committee heard translate to roughly 1,300,000 tons of food waste in that year’s municipal solid waste stream. Witnesses framed food-waste prevention both as a climate action and a way to address hunger.

Committee members and witnesses discussed several bills that were raised during testimony. The hearing referenced S2426, described as the county food-recovery planning bill that would require local solid-waste advisory committees (SWACs) to include food-waste elements in county solid-waste master plans; S200, a date-labeling bill from a prior session that witnesses urged the committees to reintroduce or adapt to New Jersey; and S3889, a bill to reduce campus food waste that has passed the Senate and was under review in the Assembly.

Speakers emphasized prevention and donation guidance in addition to how to grow recycling capacity. Sarah Elnakib urged stronger state guidance for safe food donation and more district-level composting policies for K–12 schools, saying schools need “technical assistance” so they can implement prevention, donation and composting programs. Zach Shaben testified that Too Good To Go’s marketplace has helped New Jersey businesses recoup revenue from surplus food and urged policies that “prioritize prevention” alongside donation.

Panelists called for state incentives and implementation supports: funding for technical assistance to districts and food-recovery organizations, a tiered regulatory approach for composting, and promotion of pilot projects that combine composting and anaerobic digestion. Several witnesses recommended aligning county planning, DEP rulemaking, and local health-inspector guidance so food donation and meal recovery can expand safely.

Committee members closed the session encouraging continued stakeholder work and said they would review the testimony and bills mentioned at the hearing.","A joint Senate and Assembly Environment and Energy hearing on Earth Day drew university researchers, food-rescue groups, composters and anaerobic-digestion operators to discuss reducing food waste, backing bills to require county planning for food recovery and to standardize date labels.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Meal-recovery groups, food-rescue app tout prevention and donation strategies to capture prepared food surplus

Anaerobic-digestion projects and wastewater co-digestion emerge as key paths to convert food waste to energy in New Jersey

Developers and compost advocates say New Jersey’s enclosure requirement stalls commercial composting

N.J. environment committees hold Earth Day hearing on food-waste prevention, spotlight county planning and date-labeling bills