Edible Food Donation and Recovery Program

This page is designed to help organizations and businesses comply with new State law Senate Bill (SB) 1383 edible food recovery requirements. Food recovery means collecting edible food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to feed people in need.

What is SB 1383?

SB 1383 is a state law that establishes targets to reduce food waste that would otherwise end up in the landfill, and to increase edible food recovery by 20%, by 2025. Cities and counties are required to monitor and implement a food recovery program to advance these goals.

What does SB 1383 require?

1. Food Generators must donate to food recovery organizations (such as food banks and/or food pantries) the maximum amount of edible food they would otherwise throw away.
2. Food Recovery Organizations must track edible food donations and report to the City on an annual basis.
3. Cities must educate food generators and organizations, conduct routine inspections and monitor for compliance.

Who must comply?

Food generating businesses

Businesses that produce, sell, and serve food must arrange to recover and donate the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be thrown away. These businesses are categorized into the following two tiers:

What is required of my business?

Enter into a written agreement or contract with a food recovery service(s) or organization(s) to collect or receive your edible food

Maintain records of the following:

• Types of food donated
• Pounds donated per month
• Frequency of donations
• Name, address, and contact information of the contracted food recovery service(s) and/or organization(s)
• Businesses shall not intentionally spoil food that can be recovered
• Large venues or large event operators shall require food facilities operating onsite to comply with the food recovery requirements

Reporting

City may request data on an annual basis for compliance reporting to CalRecycle. More information can be found at CalRecycle’s website for Food Donors.

Edible food recovery organizations

Food recovery organizations that accept donations from Tier 1 or Tier 2 businesses are subject to new reporting requirements. These organizations must maintain records and report annually to the City beginning January 01, 2022.

What is required of my organization?

A food recovery organization or service that has established a written agreement or contract with either a Tier 1 or Tier 2 business shall report annually to the City and maintain records of the following:

• Name, address, and contact information for the Tier 1 or Tier 2 business from which your organization is accepting or collecting food
• Pounds collected/received/transported from each food donor per month

Reporting

Food Recovery Organizations shall report to the City the total pounds of edible food recovered in the previous calendar year from Tier 1 and Tier 2 commercial edible food generators they have established a contract or written agreement with pursuant to 14 CCR Section 18991.3(b) no later than March 31st of each year.

Food recovery organizations and services

• Donate your surplus edible food to one of these local organizations

These documents and tools are available from CalRecycle click here.