S. 3443 — Zero Food Waste Act

This section directs the EPA Administrator to establish a competitive grant program to reduce food waste disposed in landfills or incinerated by 50% by 2035 (relative to 2015 levels). Eligible entities include state, local, territorial, or Tribal governments; 501(c)(3) nonprofits; and partnerships thereof. Under the program, the Administrator may award grants to governments (excluding nonprofits) for (1) studying food waste generation and reduction policies and developing plans for at least one reduction activity (prioritizing prevention) or (2) collecting and publicly reporting food waste data monthly or quarterly; and to any eligible entity for (3) food waste reduction projects (e.g., prevention, rescue, upcycling, recycling; differential disposal pricing; technical assistance; landfill/incineration restrictions; recycling market policies; or other reduction activities), including data collection and reporting. Applications from nonprofits require a letter of support from a relevant government or experienced nonprofit; the Administrator prioritizes diverse locations and uses, governments with existing programs or infrastructure needs, and projects in disproportionately affected communities of color, low-income communities, or Tribal communities.