ACR 178: National Rendering Day.

WHEREAS, The burden of responsibility for feeding the world extends beyond the farm, and rendering plays a critical role in ensuring we can meet the growing global demand for food, feed, and fuel while helping to reduce food waste and loss; and

WHEREAS, Up to one-half of each animal produced for meat is not consumed by humans due to North American consumer preferences, and rendering recycles these animal products into valuable ingredients for animal feed, renewable fuels, fertilizers, and other everyday products that would otherwise take up an enormous amount of precious landfill space and create public health concerns; and

WHEREAS, Renderers also collect billions of pounds of used cooking oil from restaurants and food manufacturers for upcycling into sustainable fuels, including biodiesel, that power trucks, trains, water vessels, and other vehicles; and

WHEREAS, Rendering feeds livestock, household pets, and other animals while serving as the largest industry involved in the prevention of food loss and waste and as an important component of a biocircular economy; and

WHEREAS, Rendering is an essential, environmentally friendly process that significantly contributes to sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving landfill space, supporting a circular economy, and reducing reliance on imported resources; and

WHEREAS, The United States rendering industry annually recycles billions of pounds of material, contributes roughly $10 billion in annual economic activity across the country, supports thousands of jobs nationwide, including in the State of California, and includes many small businesses that help drive the American economy; and

WHEREAS, Renderers play an important role in reducing food loss and waste, sustainably recycling valuable agricultural resources and positively contributing to local, state, national, and international economies; and

WHEREAS, It is no coincidence that National Rendering Day falls on the day before Earth Day, as renderers, dubbed the “original recyclers,” have been silently cleaning up our communities for centuries by ensuring no part of the animal is wasted and by helping drive forward a circular economy; and

WHEREAS, National Rendering Day is observed annually on April 21 to raise awareness of the essential services provided by the rendering industry and its contributions to sustainability, public health, and the economy; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature hereby recognizes April 21, 2026, as National Rendering Day and commends the rendering industry and its workers for their vital contributions to environmental stewardship, public health, feeding the world, reducing food waste, and strengthening the economy; and be it further

Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.