return unused food from grocery stores and restaurants to go to food shelves and shelters

 

The purpose of this bill is to reduce the amount of food waste, and help distribute it to those in need. Doing so will

reduce waste, Minnesota’s greenhouse emissions, and feed hundreds, if not thousands.

 

 

Food is good a lot longer than most think it is. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, of the 800,000

tons of food waste that is thrown away each year, about 250,000 tons is still edible or could be donated. About 35% of

all food waste comes from restaurants and retail, and another 20-25% comes from manufacturing and distribution to

grocery stores and restaurants. Furthermore, 18% of all waste in Minnesota is food waste, and food is the 3rd largest

source of methane within Minnesota landfills, being a critical greenhouse gas and contributing to climate change

greatly. While there are already programs in place, such as organic recycling programs in over 50% of our counties, and

nonprofits are doing their best, it's evidently not enough if we are putting up these numbers. Steps should be taken,

and this bill will do these things.

 

 

Restaurants- any place that serves food to consumers

Manufacturing- All facilities that produce, process, or package food in Minnesota, before sold to retailers or

restaurants

Distribution- Moving and storing food between producers and retailers

 

 

Raising the commercial management tax to 17.5% (from 17%) and using the fines generated from the penalties to maintain

the services that will assist. This should raise about 150,000$, based on assumed projections of 2026's fiscal year,

which should be ample for what we will be doing. Upkeep should be maintained by fines, listed below.

 

 

Companies who do not comply with the standard procedures that will be placed, will be fined an amount relative to the

total amount of food wasted and value of the company, which are listed below:

0 - 50,000$, a fine of 5,00$

50,001 - 150,000$, a fine of 10,000$

150,001 - 300,000$, a fine of 30,000$

300,001 - 500,000$, a fine of 60,000$

500,001 - 1,000,000$, a fine of 80,000$

1,000,001$+, a fine of 5% gross profits

 

 

June 1st, 2027, giving us ample time to connect with companies and set up areas to accomplish this.