Food Donation

Food scraps are parts of food items that are typically discarded rather than eaten. They include food that was not finished or leftovers that went bad. Any type of food can become scraps. In 2020, Vermont State Law banned all food scraps from the landfill.

Most types of food can be donated. The Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act provides protection from liability for the donation of food that is ‘apparently wholesome’ without visible quality issues. Check below for information on how to donate your food for human and animal consumption. However, if food looks or smells bad, is moldy, or has damaged packaging do not donate it – compost it!

Food For People

All donated food should be protected to prevent food contamination by storing in packages, covered containers, or wrappings. Contact the following organizations listed below directly for information on how to donate and how to prepare leftovers to ensure they meet food safety requirements.

Martha’s Kitchen

139 Lake Street

St Albans, VT 05478

Donations Accepted

Every Day, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

Champlain Islands Food Shelf

12 Hyde Road
Grand Isle, VT – 05458

Donations Accepted

Tuesday: 9:30 – 11:30am or

Wednesday: 1:00-4:00pm

Georgia Food Shelf

The Georgia Food Shelf is located behind the Georgia Public Library.

Donations Accepted

Saturdays at the Food Shelf 9:30am – 10:30am, Mondays 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Georgia Town Library during hours of operation.

Food For Animals

Feeding livestock is the next best-recommended use for food scraps. Vermont allows and encourages food scraps to be donated to feed animals. Contact local farms who may be interested in taking your food scraps. Check below for the current regulations on feeding food scraps to chicken and pigs.

Feeding Chickens

Currently the Vermont Agency of Agriculture does not  have regulations for feeding food scraps to chickens. Check out the Composting Association of Vermont’s toolkit for feeding food scraps to laying hens here.

Feeding Pigs

The Agency of Agriculture prohibits feeding pigs any meat or fish food scraps or food scraps that have touched meat or fish, including their organs, bones, and juices. According to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, these regulations do not apply to feeding personal food scraps to pigs that are for personal consumption.