FOOD RECOVERY & COMPOSTING ACT

SB 47, the "Food Recovery and Composting Act," creates a state program within New Mexico's Department of Environment to advance food recovery and composting. It establishes a Food Recovery and Composting Advisory Group with diverse representation (including tribes, municipalities, and industry) to guide grant funding and programming. The bill imposes a $3-per-ton surcharge on solid waste disposal (reduced to $2/ton for facilities with on-site composting) to fund a dedicated "Food Recovery and Composting Fund," which will support grants for eligible entities like counties, tribes, and composting facilities starting January 2027. These grants will finance initiatives such as pilot programs, education, and infrastructure for reducing organic waste and expanding composting.