THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1523
Food Waste Reduction
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to food waste reduction; creating s.
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1013.121, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education
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to develop a specified policy; requiring school
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districts to adopt the policy within a specified
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timeframe; providing requirements for the policy;
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requiring each participating school district to submit
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a report to the department by a specified date;
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providing requirements for the report; 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 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 policy to
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be adopted by 25 percent of school districts in this state by
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the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year and to be adopted by
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100 percent of school districts in this state by the beginning
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of the 2029-2030 school year, which requires all of the
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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) Gradual elimination of single-use plastics by
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replacing them with reusable or compostable alternatives,
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subject to legislative appropriation.
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(2) Each participating school district shall submit an
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annual report to the department by the end of each school year
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which includes all of the following:
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(a) Total quantity by weight of cafeteria food donated.
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(b) Total quantity by weight of organic food waste
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diverted to a composting program.
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(c) Total quantity of single-use plastic items eliminated.
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(d) Cost savings realized by the school district.
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(e) Any barriers encountered and recommendations for the
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policy.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.