Food waste in New York is a pressing issue, not just for the food industry but also for the environment. Legislation is the only way to solve this crisis. 

According to one estimate, around 2.4 million New Yorkers are food insecure, while food makes up 18% of the total waste stream in the state. If somehow a portion of this wasted food could be recovered, the rate of food insecurity in the state would significantly decline. Through more legislation, we can direct this food to food banks, pantries, or community centers to help impact those in need.

From an environmental perspective, the reduction in food waste can have a significant impact on the deteriorating global climate. It has been estimated that if global food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, behind China and America. The problem with food waste is that once it is thrown in the landfill, it breaks down and releases methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than Carbon Dioxide. 

We must take advantage of composting facilities and anaerobic digestion to tackle this. These processes help turn waste into fertilizers, which can be productively utilized. 

Curbing food waste also has an economic incentive. When the food is being wasted, vast volumes of freshwater, fertilizers, pesticides, and energy invested in growing that food also go to waste. This can have sweeping consequences for land irrigation and energy consumption. 

New York must confront this by reducing the production, distribution, and preparation of excessive food legally and recovering appropriate food waste to feed those in need.

Given the hunger problem millions of New Yorkers face and the economic and environmental consequences that food waste brings, it is necessary that the undertaking of such a significant issue have the resources and guidance from the government. The reliance on the goodwill of the people is not enough in such a vast state.