Substitute Senate Bill No. 1046 aims to reduce food waste in schools by amending existing statutes to include schools in organic waste recycling requirements. Starting January 1, 2024, local and regional boards of education in school districts that are within twenty miles of an authorized composting facility and generate at least twenty-six tons per year of organic waste must separate and recycle this waste. The bill also recognizes on-site composting or treatment as compliant and requires composting facilities to report their fees to the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection. Additionally, the bill introduces a voluntary pilot program for municipalities and school boards to recycle organic materials and mandates the development of guidelines for composting programs in schools by January 1, 2024, with schools being able to implement these programs starting the school year commencing July 1, 2023.

The bill's financial implications include potential costs for school districts related to the separation, storage, transportation, and disposal of organic material at composting facilities. However, these costs could be mitigated by savings from reduced tipping fees and cooperative arrangements between boards of education for composting services. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is tasked with administering the voluntary pilot program, and the State Department of Education is responsible for creating the composting guidelines, both of which are expected to incur no additional fiscal impact as they can utilize existing resources. The bill includes legal insertions and deletions to ensure clarity and proper legal form.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
KID Joint Favorable:
File No. 105: