S 1464

Florida Senate - 2026  SB 1464
By Senator Rodriguez
40-01445A-26  20261464__
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to food and plastic waste reduction;
3creating s. 1013.121, F.S.; requiring the Department
4of Education to develop a specified pilot program in
5cooperation with the Department of Agriculture and
6Consumer Services; requiring that the pilot program be
7offered in a certain percentage of schools, beginning
8in a specified school year; specifying requirements
9for the pilot program; requiring each participating
10school district to submit a report to the Department
11of Education by a specified date; specifying
12requirements for the report; providing for the
13expiration of the pilot program; providing an
14effective date.
15
16Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18Section 1. Section 1013.121, Florida Statutes, is created
19to read:
201013.121 School food and plastic waste reduction.—
21(1) The Department of Education shall develop a 3-year
22pilot program in cooperation with the Department of Agriculture
23and Consumer Service’s Farm to School program to be offered in
24up to 10 percent of schools in any school district in this state
25by the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year. The program must
26include all of the following:
27(a) A partnership with a local nonprofit organization or
28food bank to redistribute edible cafeteria food and divert
29organic food waste to a composting program.
30(b) Installation of a sorting system for cafeteria waste,
31subject to legislative appropriation.
32(c) Installation of a dishwashing system, with priority
33given to schools that previously operated a dishwashing system,
34subject to legislative appropriation.
35(d)Elimination of single-use plastics by replacing them
36with stainless steel reusable serving ware.
37(2) Each participating school district shall submit an
38annual report to the Department of Education by the end of each
39school year which includes all of the following:
40(a) Total quantity of cafeteria waste diverted to landfill
41or incineration.
42(b) Total quantity by weight of cafeteria food donated.
43(c) Total quantity by weight of organic food waste diverted
44as animal feed or compost.
45(d) Total quantity of single-use plastic items eliminated.
46(e) Cost savings realized by the school district.
47(f) Any barriers encountered and recommendations for the
48pilot program.
49(3) The pilot program expires and this section is repealed
50July 1, 2030.
51Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.