By Community Contributor tbryers
Senate Bill 2606 requires Illinois government agencies entering into contracts with food vendors to adopt a policy that allows for leftover food to be donated. The policy must be circulated to all agency employees and include the names of nearby soup kitchens, food banks, and other nonprofits where the food can be donated.
According to the Illinois Environmental Council, approximately 23 percent of the 19 million tons of waste filling Illinois landfills each year is attributed to food scraps. Meanwhile, one in eight Illinoisans are considered food insecure.