THE BILL ITSELF
SB 1464
Food and Plastic Waste Reduction
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1464 By Senator Rodriguez 40-01445A-26 20261464__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to food and plastic waste reduction;
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creating s. 1013.121, F.S.; requiring the Department
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of Education to develop a specified pilot program in
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cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and
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Consumer Services; requiring that the pilot program be
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offered in a certain percentage of schools, beginning
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in a specified school year; specifying requirements
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for the pilot program; requiring each participating
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school district to submit a report to the Department
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of Education by a specified date; specifying
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requirements for the report; providing for the
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expiration of the pilot program; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 1013.121, Florida Statutes, is created
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to read:
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1013.121 School food and plastic waste reduction.—
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(1) The Department of Education shall develop a 3-year
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pilot program in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture
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and Consumer Service’s Farm to School program to be offered in
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up to 10 percent of schools in any school district in this state
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by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. The program must
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include all of the following:
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(a) A partnership with a local nonprofit organization or
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food bank to redistribute edible cafeteria food and divert
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organic food waste to a composting program.
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(b) Installation of a sorting system for cafeteria waste,
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subject to legislative appropriation.
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(c) Installation of a dishwashing system, with priority
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given to schools that previously operated a dishwashing system,
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subject to legislative appropriation.
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(d) Elimination of single-use plastics by replacing them
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with stainless steel reusable serving ware.
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(2) Each participating school district shall submit an
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annual report to the Department of Education by the end of each
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school year which includes all of the following:
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(a) Total quantity of cafeteria waste diverted to landfill
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or incineration.
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(b) Total quantity by weight of cafeteria food donated.
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(c) Total quantity by weight of organic food waste diverted
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as animal feed or compost.
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(d) Total quantity of single-use plastic items eliminated.
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(e) Cost savings realized by the school district.
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(f) Any barriers encountered and recommendations for the
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pilot program.
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(3) The pilot program expires and this section is repealed
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July 1, 2030.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.