A Democratic bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 4 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Zero Food Waste Act" establishes a grant program directed by the Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. The primary goal of this program is to reduce food waste by 50 percent by the year 2035, compared to 2015 levels. Grants can be awarded for studying food waste, collecting and reporting data, and carrying out various reduction projects. The bill includes provisions for differential pricing, technical assistance, and restrictions on how food waste is disposed of. It also outlines specific requirements for anaerobic digestion projects. This legislation authorizes up to $650,000,000 in appropriations for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2035.
Yes· 3 of 12
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill aims to reduce food waste by 50 percent and regulates the disposal of organic waste via anaerobic digestion.
- Scored +5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill explicitly directs the prioritization of grants for Tribal communities.
- Scored +5
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill directs the EPA to prioritize grants for communities of color and Tribal communities disproportionately affected by environmental issues.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes significant new annual appropriations of $650 million through 2035.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Reduction in Food Waste: The program aims to help reduce the amount of food waste by 50 percent by 2035 relative to 2015 levels (Sec. 2(a)(2)).
-
Support for Impacted Communities: The Administrator is directed to prioritize awarding grants to eligible entities that use them in communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal communities that have been disproportionately affected by adverse human health or environmental effects (Sec. 2(b)(3)(ii)).
-
Resource for Research and Planning: Grants can be used to study food waste generation and develop plans for reduction activities, which helps identify effective policies and programs (Sec. 2(a)(3)(A)).
-
Data Transparency: The program allows for the collection of data on food waste and the publication of monthly or quarterly reports on a public website (Sec. 2(a)(3)(B)).
-
Economic Incentives and Assistance: Grants can fund technical assistance or implement differential pricing to incentivize food waste reduction activities (Sec. 2(a)(3)(C)(i)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Increased Costs for Disposal: The bill allows for the implementation of a differential pricing policy on the disposal of food waste to disincentivize incineration or landfill use (Sec. 2(a)(3)(C)(i)(II)).
-
Waste Disposal Restrictions: Grants may be used to implement restrictions on disposing of food waste via incineration or deposit in a landfill (Sec. 2(a)(3)(C)(i)(IV).
-
New Requirements for Waste Management: The bill allows for the implementation of specific food waste reduction activity requirements (Sec. 2(a)(3)(C)(i)(V).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill explicitly directs the prioritization of grants for Tribal communities. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions to prioritize communities of color in grant distribution. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill includes provisions to prioritize communities of color in grant distribution. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes awarding grants to entities serving low-income communities.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill aims to reduce food waste by 50 percent and regulates the disposal of organic waste via anaerobic digestion. Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides funding for infrastructure and resources that can be applied to various geographic locations, including potentially rural ones.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill directs the EPA to prioritize grants for communities of color and Tribal communities disproportionately affected by environmental issues. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill prioritizes investment in low-income communities to support infrastructure and resource needs.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill provides substantial grant funding for studying food waste generation and management planning.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to create jobs? — The establishment of a $6.5 billion grant program for food waste reduction projects is likely to stimulate job growth in waste management and recycling sectors. Does this make it easier to run a small business? — Grants can fund technical assistance to help entities implement food waste reduction activities. Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes significant new annual appropriations of $650 million through 2035.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the publication of food waste data and annual reports on a public website.
- 1/15/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/12/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Sean CastenDemocrat · Illinois
Doris MatsuiDemocrat · California
Chellie PingreeDemocrat · Maine
Jill TokudaDemocrat · Hawaii