Blog Post

Donating Food Made Simple: A New MA Resource for Businesses and Institutions

August 12, 2025

Have you ever wanted to start or develop a food donation program but were unsure how to begin? You’re not the only one. Many businesses and institutions across Massachusetts want to reduce wasted food and give back to their communities, but navigating the food donation landscape can feel overwhelming. Questions like What can we donate? How do we safely store or transport items? and Are there liability risks? can all stand in the way of taking action.

RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks MA) understands these challenges. That’s why we’ve revamped our Food Donation webpages so that MA businesses have the resources they need to optimize or start a food donation program.

Our Introduction to Food Donation page was designed to answer the questions surrounding food donation with user-friendly features like dropdown sections and action buttons for easy navigation.

Sections include:

  • Why donate surplus edible food?
  • Breaking Down Barriers to Food Donation
  • Start or Strengthen Your Food Donation Program

For businesses ready to implement or improve donation practices, our updated Best Management Practices (BMP) page is must-read. Developed through collaboration with state and local health departments, food rescue organizations, and experienced food donors, this guide provides a detailed roadmap for successful food donation.

Here’s a taste of what’s included:

  • Liability Protections guidance and resources from the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic and Massachusetts State Law are provided to help assure your organization that donating wholesome food in good faith is fully protected
  • Guidance on how to assess and prepare surplus food for donation
  • Safe storage and transportation tips to maintain quality and comply with health regulations
  • Food safety best practices from handling to labeling
  • Recordkeeping strategies to help your organization track donations and explore potential tax benefits

You’ll also find a comprehensive list of resources to explore.

Information on our food donation webpage is not intended to supersede guidance from your local health department, corporate policy, or contractual agreements. Always consult with your local health department for the most accurate and up-to-date information relevant to your business.

Need Help? We’re Here for You.

RecyclingWorks MA offers no-cost, non-regulatory technical assistance to help your business or institution navigate food donation logistics or other wasted food solutions. Call RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts at 1-888-254-5525 or email info@recyclingworksma.com.

Stay tuned! We’re continuing to update and expand our RecyclingWorks MA website to support sustainable wasted food solutions across Massachusetts.