SPRINGFIELD – To combat climate change and environmental degradation as well as provide food for students, State Senator Laura Ellman is working to advance legislation aimed at helping schools reduce food waste and ensure more students have access to nutritious meals during the school day.
“In a state where one in eight people face food insecurity, we should be doing everything we can to make sure good food doesn’t go to waste,” said Ellman (D-Naperville). “This is a simple, practical solution that helps schools reduce waste while making sure more students have access to the food they need to learn and thrive.”
Under current law, school districts participating in federal child nutrition programs must develop food-sharing plans as part of their local wellness policies. House Bill 4859 would clarify that share tables, already used in many schools, can fulfill this requirement, ensuring safe, equitable, and efficient redistribution of unopened food items in accordance with guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture. Share tables are designated areas where students can place unopened, uneaten food items for others to take at no cost.
The proposed legislation would also addresses the environmental impact of food waste. According to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, approximately 3.8 million tons of food are sent to landfills in Illinois each year, where decomposing food produces methane, a greenhouse gas significantly more potent than carbon dioxide.
“Reducing food waste isn’t just about sustainability, it is about responsibility,” said Ellman. “By keeping edible food in circulation, we can support students, ease environmental impacts, and make better use of the resources we already have.”
House Bill 4859 passed the Senate Education Committee and now heads to the full Senate for further consideration.
