Solid Waste Disposal Surcharge and Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund and Grant Programs - Established

This Maryland bill establishes a surcharge on solid waste disposal to fund food waste reduction initiatives. Waste disposal operators must pay the surcharge, with funds deposited into a new Wasted Food Reduction and Diversion Fund. The fund will support two grant programs: one for on-farm composting and food rescue projects (administered by the Department of Agriculture), and another for county-level infrastructure, education, and food diversion programs (administered by the Department of the Environment). Eligible recipients include farmers, urban agricultural producers, nonprofits, and local governments working to reduce, rescue, and divert wasted food.