California's SB 1383 changed how businesses handle food and organic waste. If you run a store, restaurant, hotel, warehouse or food distribution site in California, here is what the rule asks of you and how to prepare.
Table of Contents
What SB 1383 is
SB 1383 is a 2016 California law aimed at cutting methane from landfills. It sets two statewide goals for 2025: reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfill to 75 percent below 2014 levels, and recover at least 20 percent of edible food that is currently thrown away so it can feed people. CalRecycle's regulations took effect on 1 January 2022, and local governments are responsible for enforcing them.
Two sets of rules for businesses
1. Organic waste. Businesses must keep organic waste (food scraps, food-soiled paper, yard trimmings) out of the garbage. That usually means subscribing to organic waste collection from your hauler, providing the right containers, and labeling and training staff. Some businesses qualify to self-haul or take other approved routes.
2. Edible food recovery. Certain large food generators must arrange to donate edible food that would otherwise be thrown away.
- Tier 1 (required since 1 January 2022): supermarkets, grocery stores with a large facility, food service providers, food distributors and wholesale food vendors.
- Tier 2 (required since 1 January 2024): large restaurants, hotels with an on-site food facility and many rooms, hospitals and other health facilities with a large on-site kitchen, large venues and events, and some state and school facilities.
Size thresholds apply to each tier, so check the exact definitions for your site.
What you need to do
- Find out if you are Tier 1 or Tier 2, or neither. Your city or county can confirm.
- Set up organic waste collection and place the right containers where waste is generated.
- Train staff on what goes where, and label containers.
- If you are Tier 1 or 2, arrange food donation with a food recovery organization or service, and put it in writing.
- Keep records. Typically this means your donation agreements, the amounts donated and collected, and your organic waste service records. Keep them where an inspector can ask for them.
Enforcement
Cities and counties set their own inspection and penalty rules, and fines can escalate for repeat violations. Check your local jurisdiction's program.
Where reuse helps
Edible food donation and organics diversion keep material out of landfill and reduce disposal cost. Happen Ventures coordinates donation and organics programs for commercial sites. See donations and reuse and organics and composting.
Check the source
Requirements change and local rules differ. Confirm the current details with CalRecycle's SB 1383 page and its edible food recovery page, and with your local jurisdiction.
