In a recent meeting of the New Jersey Assembly's Environment, Natural Resources, and Solid Waste Committee, significant discussions centered on addressing food waste in schools and institutions. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension's food waste team presented their ongoing efforts since 2017, highlighting their work across 11 of New Jersey's 21 counties. They have implemented food waste audits, provided training for food service staff, and educated students on the importance of reducing food waste.

The team emphasized the need for stronger state policies regarding food donation and composting. They proposed adopting clear food donation guidelines modeled after successful policies from states like Washington and Maine. Currently, inefficiencies exist in food composting practices, as schools within the same district cannot share composting resources. The team advocates for policies that would allow for district-wide composting and food donation, which could significantly reduce waste.

Additionally, the meeting underscored the importance of integrating food waste education into New Jersey's new climate change curriculum for K-12 schools. This initiative aims to raise awareness about sustainability and food waste among students. The team also called for expanded training programs for food service staff to promote best practices in food handling and donation.

Funding recommendations included investing in technical assistance for schools to enhance their food waste management efforts. The team highlighted the need for better communication between municipal health inspectors and schools to alleviate concerns about food donation safety. They proposed mandating shared tables in every school to facilitate the redistribution of excess food to students in need.

The discussions revealed that food waste is a pressing issue with far-reaching environmental, economic, and community impacts. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension team estimates that approximately 25% of food waste in New Jersey originates from school food services. By coordinating policy, education, and action, the state aims to build a more sustainable food system.

As the committee continues to explore these recommendations, the focus remains on fostering collaboration among schools, health inspectors, and food rescue organizations to effectively tackle the food waste crisis in New Jersey.