ITHACA, N.Y. (American Public News) — Tompkins County is receiving federal funding to combat food waste and improve waste management practices.The county’s Recycling and Materials Management Department (TCRMM) will utilize the USDA grant to implement programs aimed at reducing food waste, enhancing prepared food donation strategies, and promoting on-farm composting. TCRMM will collaborate with local organizations, including the Friendship Donations Network, TC3 Farm, Coltivare, and the Cornell Waste Management Institute, among others.“Food scraps account for roughly 18% of the waste stream in New York State,” said Leo Riley, Director of TCRMM. “Reducing this waste has significant benefits. This USDA funding will enable businesses to divert prepared food to those in need and help local farms recycle food waste into valuable soil amendments.”The funding is part of the USDA’s Composting and Food Waste Reduction Project, which supports 38 initiatives nationwide, running through 2026. TCRMM and its partners plan to host a roundtable this fall with local food businesses to discuss strategies for reducing food waste. These strategies will then be incorporated into the ReBusiness Partners program to prevent waste, redistribute surplus food, and compost what remains.“These projects are vital for reducing food waste and greenhouse gas emissions,” said Terry Cosby, Chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. “Local initiatives like this play a crucial role in climate solutions and contribute to food security at the community level.”TCRMM will announce more details about the upcoming roundtable, a farm composting workshop, and other technical assistance opportunities in the coming months.