SB 1383 Edible Food Recovery
Edible Food Recovery
In addition to the goal of reducing 75% of organic waste disposal statewide by 2025, California aims to recover 20% of edible food currently being thrown away to help feed the 1 in 5 Californians without enough food to eat.
- The City is working regionally to develop a food recovery program and strengthen its existing food recovery networks
- Food donors must arrange to recover the maximum amount of their edible food that would otherwise go to landfills
- Food recovery organizations and services that participate in SB 1383 must maintain records.
Requirements for Food-Related Businesses
Businesses that generate edible food must recover edible food that would otherwise be disposed of. Businesses must contract with food recovery services or organizations, or self-haul the edible food to organizations that will accept it.
Tier 1 or Tier 2 food generators must comply with these requirements:
| Tier 1 Food Generators | Tier 2 Food Generators |
|---|---|
| • Supermarket: larger than 10,00 sq. feet • Grocery store: larger than 10,000 sq. feet • Food service provider • Food distributor • Wholesale food vendor |
• Restaurants: 250+ seats and/or greater than 5,000 sq. feet • Hotels with on-site food facility and 200+ rooms. • Health Facility with on-site food facility and 100+ beds • Large venues • Large events • State agency with a cafeteria and 200+ seats or 5,000 sq. feet • Local education agency with on-site food facility |
| Typically have more produce, fresh groceries, and shelf-stable foods to donate. | Typically have more prepared foods to donate, which requires more careful food handling to meet safety standards. |
| Deadline to fulfill SB 1383 requirements: January 1, 2022 | Deadline to fulfill SB 1383 requirements: January 1, 2024 |
How Can Tier 1 and Tier 2 Businesses Comply?
Tier 1 and Tier 2 businesses must:
- Establish a contract with a food recovery service or organization.
- Donate the maximum amount of edible food.
- Maintain records of donations.
Does Your Business Need Assistance to Understand and Meet These Requirements?
The City of Arcata has contracted with Abound Food Care to help food-related businesses comply with the edible food recovery requirements of SB 1383. Abound Food Care will provide education, guidance, and support to food-related businesses. Please contact Abound Food Care at (657) 335-4480 ext. 112 or by email at becky@aboundfoodcare.org for assistance with the following:
- Questions regarding these regulations
- Assistance with getting into a food donation program
- Submitting proof of your program compliance
Food Pantries and Food Recovery Organizations
Throughout Humboldt County, Food for People works to eliminate hunger and improve our community’s health and well-being through advocacy, community education, and increasing access to healthy and nutritious foods. Their website is also available in Spanish, found here. You can also visit the city's website Feed People Not Landfills, which has more information on food waste prevention and recovery.
The following organizations provide supplemental groceries to households, as well as accept donations of edible food in the City of Arcata:
Name | Address | Phone Number | Types of Food Accepted for Donation |
| The Annex (Arcata House Partnership Pantry) | 501 9th St, Arcata | 707-633-6236 | Non-expired canned food, non-perishable food, factory-sealed food produce, and factory-sealed miscellaneous food that is within USDA sell-by dates. |
| Arcata Family Resource Center | 2400 Baldwin St, Arcata | 707-826-1002 | Canned Food, Baby Food (unopened and expired), Produce, Frozen Meats, Bread and Cereal, Shelf Stable (Dry Goods) |
| Trinity Baptist Church Arcata Pantry | 2450 Alliance Rd, Arcata | 707-822-7668 | Bakery, Dairy, Frozen foods, Meat/Fish, Shelf stable (dry goods), Produce |
| Arcata Heritage Café (Humboldt Senior Resource Center) | 321 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Arcata | 707-825-2027 | Doesn't accept food from donations - all food distributed comes from restaurants |
| "Oh SNAP!" (Student ONLY Food Pantry at Cal Poly Humboldt) | 1 Harpst St, Arcata (Recreation and Wellness Center, Room 122) | 707-826-5228 | Shelf stable (dry goods) |
For a more comprehensive list of Food Pantries and Food Recovery Organizations, visit the County's Edible Food Donation and Recovery page.
Edible Food Rescue Capacity Assessment
In 2021, Zero Waste Humboldt completed an Edible Food Rescue Capacity Assessment for the City of Arcata and the City of Eureka. This assessment included outreach to local food waste generators (grocery stores, food distributors, food vendors, restaurants, hotels, health facilities, and educational agencies), as well as in-depth interviews with local food recovery organizations. This report gives insight into local food waste and food security issues and can be read in its entirety by clicking here.