A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
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 requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a grant program. This program aims to reduce the total quantity of food waste by 50 percent by the year 2035 compared to 2015 levels. Grants can be awarded to various entities, including state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments, as well as nonprofit organizations. The funds are intended for activities such as studying food waste, collecting data, and implementing reduction projects. These projects can include prevention, rescue, upcycling, and recycling efforts. The act authorizes $650,000,000 for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2035.
Yes· 3 of 10
- Scored +6
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill aims to significantly reduce food waste through prevention, rescue, and recycling efforts.
- Scored +5
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill prioritizes awarding grants to Tribal communities facing disproportionate environmental effects.
- Scored +5
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill prioritizes grants for communities of color and Tribal communities disproportionately affected by environmental effects.
The opposite
- Scored -1
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill authorizes $650,000,000 in annual appropriations for the grant program.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Reduction in Food Waste: The program seeks to reduce food waste by 50 percent by 2035 relative to 2015 levels (Section 2(b)(2)).
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Support for Diverse Communities: The Administrator is directed to prioritize awarding grants to entities using funds in communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal communities that have been disproportionately affected by adverse human health or environmental effects (Section 2(c)(3)(B)(ii)).
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Resource Allocation for Infrastructure: Grants can be used to provide investment in infrastructure or other resources needed to implement food waste reduction programs (Section 2(c)(3)(B)(i)).
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Technical Assistance: Grant funds can be used to pay for or provide technical assistance to carry out food waste reduction activities (Section 2(b)(3)(C)(i)(III)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Disposal Costs: The bill allows for the implementation of differential pricing policies on the disposal of food waste, which is intended to disincentivize landfill or incineration use (Section 2(b)(3)(C)(i)(II)).
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Disposal Restrictions: The bill allows for the implementation of restrictions on disposing of food waste via incineration or deposit in a landfill (Section 2(b)(3)(C)(i)(IV)).
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Mandatory Requirements: The bill allows for the implementation of food waste reduction activity requirements (Section 2(b)(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 prioritizes awarding grants to Tribal communities facing disproportionate environmental effects. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill prioritizes resource allocation and infrastructure investments in low-income communities. Would people in cities be better off under this? — The bill supports local government and infrastructure improvements for food waste management.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill aims to significantly reduce food waste through prevention, rescue, and recycling efforts. Does this invest in rural communities? — Grants can be used for investment in infrastructure required to implement food waste reduction programs in various areas.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill prioritizes grants for communities of color and Tribal communities disproportionately affected by environmental effects. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill prioritizes funding for low-income communities to support food waste reduction infrastructure.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the publication of monthly or quarterly data reports on food waste generation and management.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill authorizes $650,000,000 in annual appropriations for the grant program.
- 12/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
- Introduced in Senate
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.