PRINTER'S NO. 1378
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
219
Session of
2019
INTRODUCED BY BULLOCK, DONATUCCI, SOLOMON, RABB, SCHLOSSBERG,
T. DAVIS, LONGIETTI, MURT, INNAMORATO, KINSEY, SHUSTERMAN,
O'MARA, FREEMAN, KENYATTA, HILL-EVANS, READSHAW, HOWARD,
MADDEN AND CIRESI, APRIL 11, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS,
APRIL 11, 2019
A RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to conduct a
study of the feasibility of requiring food waste recycling
for businesses and individuals based on the Commonwealth's
current infrastructure.
WHEREAS, Food waste is defined as a decrease of food in
stages of the supply chain intended for human consumption; and
WHEREAS, The United States Department of Agriculture
estimates that 30% to 40% of the food supply in the United
States is wasted; and
WHEREAS, The amount of food wasted every year is
approximately 133 billion pounds, representing roughly 1,249
calories per person, per day; and
WHEREAS, Americans throw away approximately $161 billion in
food every year or roughly $1,500 for a family of four,
including food at retailers, restaurants and at home; and
WHEREAS, Food waste accounts for approximately 20% of
landfill weight at municipal landfills; and
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WHEREAS, Methane is released when food breaks down in
landfills, which is a greenhouse gas 21 times more powerful than
carbon dioxide; and
WHEREAS, Food recycling methods like composting or anaerobic
digestion can help in reducing the harmful impacts of food
waste; and
WHEREAS, Composting can turn what would ordinarily be food
waste into mulch for trees and shrubs or mixed in as topsoil,
helping with water retention and providing valuable nutrients
for plant life; and
WHEREAS, Anaerobic digestion, which is the method of
controlling the breakdown of food waste by micro-organisms,
releases a biogas from which methane can be extracted and used
to power engines, run alternative fuel vehicles and supply homes
and businesses through natural gas pipelines; and
WHEREAS, Food waste being repurposed and recycled for other
uses has both positive environmental and economic impacts and
should be studied; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
State Government Commission to conduct a study of the
feasibility of requiring food waste recycling by businesses and
individuals within this Commonwealth given the current
infrastructure; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission provide
recommendations necessary or desirable for ways to improve
access to food waste recycling; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission issue a
report of the result of the study and recommendations evaluating
the Commonwealth's infrastructure in regard to access to food
waste recycling and potential improvements that can be made and
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file the report with the House of Representatives no later than
one year after adoption of this resolution.
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