LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE
SENATE, No. 3889
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
221st LEGISLATURE
DATED: DECEMBER 22, 2025
SUMMARY
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Synopsis: |
Requires each public institution of higher education to develop food waste reduction program on campus. |
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Type of Impact: |
Potential State expenditure increase to public institutions of higher education. |
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Agencies Affected: |
Public institutions of higher education. |
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Fiscal Impact |
Annual |
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Potential State Expenditure Increase |
Indeterminate |
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· The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) finds that this bill may lead to increases in expenditures for public institutions of higher education to the extent that the institutions do not already implement food waste reduction programs that satisfy the provisions of the bill.
· The OLS notes that any costs resulting from the bill would be dependent on the size of the institution, number of staff needed to implement the program, and the logistical and training costs needed to operate the program.
BILL DESCRIPTION
The bill requires each public institution of higher
education to develop and implement a food waste reduction program on each
campus of the institution. The purpose of the program is to redirect unused,
excess food prepared or distributed at campus dining halls facilities and
events to local food security programs, including soup kitchens, food pantries,
shelters, and community nonprofits. The program is also required to ensure all
necessary and applicable food safety standards are met throughout the selection,
packaging, and transfer of food through the program. The bill also requires
each institution to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature
on its contributions to local food security programs and post the report to its
website.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
None received.
OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES
The OLS finds that this bill may result in indeterminate increased costs to public institutions of higher education to implement food waste reduction programs as prescribed in the bill. These costs may be limited to the extent that an institution already has a food waste reduction program in place and would need to make minimal, if any, changes due to the bill. The OLS notes, for the purposes of illustration, that Rutgers University has a food waste recovery program in which the university partners with the Rutgers Student Food Pantry, Elijah’s Promise, and New Life Food Pantry to redirect unused food to the community. Other public institutions, including Montclair State University and The College of New Jersey, partner with the Food Recovery Network which relies on student volunteers to repurpose unused food from dining halls and donate the food to local organizations.
Implementing a food waste reduction program at a public institution where one does not already exist may require hiring employees and additional costs related to the logistics of storing and transporting surplus food. The number of employees needed would depend on the size of the institution, the amount of food waste being handled, and the manner in which the food waste reduction program is implemented. It is unclear if institutions would need full-time employees to operate this program or part-time employees and thus the OLS is unable to estimate this cost. Institutions may incur costs for additional storage and transportation of food to local food security programs. There also may be costs of food safety training to ensure proper safe selection and handling of all food.
The OLS notes that there are funding opportunities at the State and federal levels available to institutions to help defray the costs of implementing food waste reduction programs. The Department of Environmental Protection, for example, has a Solid Waste Recycling Enhancement Act Higher Education Research Grant Program that awards grants for recycling demonstration, research, or education, including professional training areas. The United States Department of Agriculture has various grants for food waste, such as the Solid Waste Management Grant Program that provides funds for technical assistance and training to reduce the solid waste stream through reduction, recycling, and reuse. To the extent that institutions can secure grant funding for their food waste programs, it may defray some of the associated costs.
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Section: |
Education |
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Analyst: |
Assistant Fiscal Analyst |
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Approved: |
Thomas Koenig Legislative Budget and Finance Officer |
This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.
This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).