H.R. 2883 — NO TIME TO Waste Act

This section provides definitions for terms used in the Act, including "food loss" (i.e., food that does not reach a consumer due to issues in production, storage, processing, or distribution); "food waste" (i.e., food intended for human consumption but unconsumed at retail or consumption); "food recovery" (i.e., collection and redistribution of wholesome food that would otherwise go to waste); "Liaison" (i.e., the Food Loss and Waste Reduction Liaison established under 7 U.S.C. 6924); and "upcycled food product" (i.e., a product created from surplus, unmarketable, or byproduct food using verified supply chains with positive environmental impact).

This section establishes in the Department of Agriculture the Office of Food Loss and Waste to coordinate research, data collection, education, and policy recommendations on reducing food loss and waste, including toward the national goal of a 50 percent reduction by 2030 (compared to 2016 levels). The Office must (1) conduct research on quantification methods, technologies, and greenhouse gas impacts; (2) submit progress reports to Congress; (3) administer a grant program under subsection (d); (4) develop tools and model policies for governments; (5) assess federal programs and recommend policies; and (6) perform other duties as directed. The section further directs the Secretary, in consultation with other agencies, to form partnerships with regional institutions for research and education on food loss prevention, recovery, and reduction. The section establishes a grant program to collect data on state and local food loss and waste policies, with eligible applicants including governments, government-nonprofit partnerships, or nonprofit consortia; projects limited to three years; data requirements including rigorous impact evidence (e.g., quantified reductions, control group comparisons, economic benefits); and a 10 percent non-federal matching requirement. The Office must analyze grant data to develop model policies, and the Secretary may retain up to 4 percent of grant funds for administration. The section authorizes $1.5 million annually for the Office for FY2026 through FY2030 and $2 million annually for the grant program for the same period.

This section establishes in the Department of Agriculture (USDA) regional coordinators responsible for partnering with food producers, processors, distributors, and food recovery organizations to facilitate real-time food recovery; developing food recovery capacity; providing technical support to food recovery organizations; and coordinating with USDA regional food business centers, with $1,000,000 authorized to carry out these activities. It further establishes, as part of the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) projects under 7 U.S.C. 7507(d)—which provide federal matching funds of up to 50% for the harvesting, processing, packaging, or transportation of donated commodities—a block grant program, in coordination with USDA's Office of Food Loss and Waste, Agricultural Marketing Service, TEFAP Reach and Resiliency Grants, and other relevant programs, to award annual block grants to states and Indian tribes for food recovery infrastructure and innovative food distribution models; requires states to distribute grants to food recovery organizations and local governments to address infrastructure gaps (e.g., storage and processing facilities, temperature-controlled distribution, technology for connecting surplus food sources with distributors, and personnel costs); and authorizes $2,000,000 annually for FY2026 through FY2030.

This section strengthens the federal approach to food loss and waste by— (1) directing the Secretary of Agriculture, in collaboration with the EPA Administrator and FDA Commissioner, to implement their December 17, 2020, interagency agreement—including annual progress reports to Congress, engagement with other federal agencies (e.g., Defense, Education), and consultations with stakeholders such as private sector, producers, and nonprofits—($1 million authorized annually for FY2026 through FY2030); (2) amending the Federal Food Donation Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 1792)—which requires Federal Acquisition Regulation clauses in food service contracts over $25,000 to encourage donation of excess, apparently wholesome food to nonprofits serving food-insecure individuals, with agency liability exemptions—to instead— (A) require such donations (previously encouraged); (B) set the regulation revision deadline at 180 days after enactment of this Act (from 180 days after June 20, 2008); (C) require contractors to report to agencies on efforts to prevent and reduce food loss and waste, food waste under the contract, and food donated; and (D) require executive agencies to submit biennial reports to Congress on those contractor reports; and (3) directing the Secretary of Agriculture to prioritize food loss and waste projects in awarding grants under the critical agriculture research and extension program (7 U.S.C. 3157(b)) and the inter-disciplinary engagement in animal systems program.

This section modifies the composting and food waste reduction pilot project grant program by (1) expanding eligibility to State, local, municipal, or Tribal governments (from local or municipal governments); (2) requiring the Secretary to publish application guidance for resource-limited applicants—particularly those pursuing food loss and waste reduction through non-composting means—and to accept applications over a period sufficient for smaller and rural communities; and (3) authorizing matching funds to include private funding or other revenue sources (in addition to funds provided through the grant).

This section establishes a grant program, administered by the Secretary of Agriculture through the Office of Food Loss and Waste in collaboration with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to enable State, municipal, local, or Tribal governments to form public-private partnerships with nonprofits and private entities (e.g., from grocery, hospitality, restaurant, supercenter, hospital, nursing home, or adult care sectors) committed to reducing food loss and waste by 50% by 2030. Partnerships must provide frameworks for action and information-sharing on best practices; establish measurement methodologies, baselines, and progress monitoring; form working groups; and issue annual public reports on activities, with grantees providing a 50% non-Federal match and coordinating as appropriate with regional coordinators under section 4(a). The section authorizes $2 million annually for FY2026 through FY2030.

This section establishes a national food loss and waste education and public awareness campaign to be initiated by the Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the EPA Administrator, through the liaison office and Office of Food Loss and Waste. The campaign must (1) illustrate U.S. food waste volumes; (2) provide storage, safety, and composting guidance; (3) distinguish freshness from safety and clarify date labels; (4) develop materials for industry, governments, schools, and organizations; (5) promote upcycled products and anti-waste technologies; (6) include interactive elements; and (7) address food waste links to public health, insecurity, and climate change. It prioritizes population segmentation research, targeting, and behavior-change strategies; employs a dual framework of community engagement (with pilot projects incorporating equity, behavioral science, and local solutions) and national messaging; and requires waste audits to measure impacts. The section authorizes $2 million annually for FY2026 through FY2030.