What does Preamble of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This bill, formally titled 'To authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out activities to reduce food loss and waste, and for other purposes,' aims to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to undertake activities related to reducing food loss and waste. The bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 10, 2025.

What does SHORT TITLE. of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This bill is formally titled the ``New Opportunities for Technological Innovation, Mitigation, and Education To Overcome Waste Act,'' or the ``NO TIME TO Waste Act''.

What does DEFINITIONS. of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This section defines key terms used throughout the Act. The term 'Administrator' refers to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. The term 'Commissioner' refers to the Commissioner of Food and Drugs. ‘Food’ is defined as any substance intended for human consumption. ‘Food loss’ refers to food that doesn’t reach consumers due to issues in production, storage, processing, or distribution. ‘Food recovery’ is defined as collecting and redistributing wholesome food that would otherwise be wasted. ‘Food spoilage’ refers to changes that make food unacceptable for consumption. ‘Food waste’ refers to food intended for human consumption that is unconsumed at the retail or consumption phase. The 'Liaison' is the Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison established under the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. The 'Secretary' refers to the Secretary of Agriculture. An 'upcycled food product' is created from surplus or unmarketable food, uses ingredients that would otherwise not be consumed, and has a positive environmental impact.

What does OFFICE OF FOOD LOSS AND WASTE. of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This section establishes an Office of Food Loss and Waste within the Department of Agriculture. The Office is responsible for supporting a Liaison, conducting research on food loss and waste quantification and reduction technologies, and assessing the impact of food waste reduction policies. The Office will submit reports to Congress and the public detailing progress toward reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, compared to 2016 levels. The Office will create and distribute tools and resources to support food loss and waste reduction efforts. The Office will track and assess programs across federal agencies related to food loss and waste. The Office will analyze policy data and recommend policies to address gaps in preventing and reducing food loss and waste. The Office will establish partnerships with regional institutions to conduct research and provide recommendations. The Office will establish a grant program to support data collection on state and local food loss and food waste policies. Eligible grant recipients include governmental entities, partnerships between governments and nonprofits, and partnerships between nonprofits. Grant projects must be completed within three years and provide data to the Office. Grant recipients must provide matching funds equal to at least 10% of the grant amount. Following data collection, the Office will analyze the data and establish model policies for reducing food waste.

What does IMPROVING COORDINATION TO PREVENT AND REDUCE FOOD LOSS AND of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This section establishes regional coordinators within the Department of Agriculture to facilitate real-time food recovery. Regional coordinators will partner with food producers, processors, distributors, and recovery organizations. The coordinators will provide technical support to food recovery organizations to improve their operations. The Secretary will establish a program to award block grants to States and Indian Tribes to develop and support food recovery infrastructure and innovative distribution models. Block grants will be distributed to food recovery organizations and local governments to address gaps in infrastructure. Eligible infrastructure improvements include storage, temperature-controlled distribution, and technological solutions. The Secretary is authorized to appropriate $1,000,000 to carry out the regional coordinator activities. The Secretary is authorized to appropriate $2,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the block grant program.

What does STRENGTHENING GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO FOOD LOSS AND WASTE. of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This section establishes an interagency collaboration led by the Secretary, in conjunction with the Administrator and the Commissioner, to implement an agreement on food loss and waste. The Secretary must submit annual reports to Congress and make them publicly available, detailing progress on the agreement. The Secretary is directed to engage with other federal departments and agencies to expand efforts on food loss and waste. The Secretary must consult with representatives from the private sector, agricultural producers, the food industry, nonprofit organizations, and food recovery organizations. The Secretary must ensure participation from smaller producers and organizations serving food-insecure communities in consultations. The Federal Advisory Committee Act does not apply to groups formed for consultation purposes under this section. The Secretary is authorized $1,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out this section. Section 4 of the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 is amended to require contractors to prevent and reduce food loss and waste and to submit reports on their efforts. Executive agencies must submit reports to Congress every two years describing the matters reported to them under the amended Federal Food Donation Act. The Secretary of Agriculture must prioritize grants addressing food loss and waste under specific research programs.

What does COMPOSTING AND FOOD WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAM. of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This section amends Section 222(d)(2) of the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994. The amendment expands the eligible recipients of pilot projects to include State, local, municipal, or Tribal governments. It requires the Secretary to publish guidance for applicants lacking resources to prepare pilot project applications, particularly for food loss and food waste reduction projects. The Secretary is authorized to determine a sufficient period for application submissions to ensure smaller and rural communities can participate. Grant funding may include private funding or other revenue sources, as determined by the Secretary.

What does PROMOTING THE FORMATION OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ON FOOD of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This section establishes a program to award grants to state, municipal, local, or tribal governments to incentivize the formation of public-private partnerships focused on reducing food loss and waste. Grant recipients must partner with nonprofit organizations and private entities from sectors like grocery, hospitality, restaurants, and healthcare. Partnerships are required to commit to reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030, as set by the Secretary and Administrator. Partnerships must develop a framework for cooperative action, share best practices, and establish a methodology for measuring reductions in food loss and waste. Data collection and annual reporting on partnership activities are mandated, including establishing a baseline and highlighting successes. Grant recipients must provide matching funds, in-kind contributions, or a combination thereof, equal to at least 50% of the grant amount. Partnerships are directed to coordinate with regional coordinators established under section 4(a). The section authorizes $2,000,000 in appropriations for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2030 to carry out this program.

What does FOOD LOSS AND WASTE EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. of NO TIME TO Waste Act do?

This section establishes a national food waste education and public awareness campaign. The campaign will illustrate the extent of food waste in the U.S. and provide methods for preserving and storing food. It aims to educate consumers on food safety versus freshness, composting, and upcycled food products. The Secretary will prioritize research to segment populations and determine effective targeting strategies. The campaign will utilize both community engagement with locally tailored solutions and national messaging. Pilot projects will be conducted to test campaign methods and materials, with an emphasis on equity and behavioral science. Waste audits will be conducted to assess the campaign's impact and inform future efforts. The section authorizes $2,000,000 annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030 to carry out the campaign.

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NO TIME TO Waste Act

Last updated: 4/10/2025 · Introduced: 4/10/2025

Author: Chellie Pingree (D-ME)

TL;DR (AI)

This bill establishes an Office of Food Loss and Waste within the Department of Agriculture to conduct research, track programs, and recommend policies aimed at reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030.
The bill authorizes the Department of Agriculture to provide block grants to states and tribal governments to improve food recovery infrastructure, such as storage and distribution facilities.
It mandates interagency collaboration, led by the Secretary of Agriculture, to implement an agreement on food loss and waste, requiring annual reports to Congress and engagement with various stakeholders.
The bill expands eligibility for pilot projects focused on composting and food waste reduction to include state, local, municipal, and tribal governments, ensuring smaller communities can participate.
It creates a grant program to incentivize public-private partnerships focused on reducing food loss and waste, requiring partners to commit to a 50% reduction by 2030 and provide matching funds.

119th Congressin committeeS. 1395(In Committee)Official page

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Includes provisions on preamble, short title., and 7 more.

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