Edible Food Recovery
What is "edible food"?
Edible food is food intended for people to eat, including food not sold because of appearance, age, freshness, grade, surplus, etc. Edible food includes, but is not limited to, prepared foods, packaged foods and produce. All edible food must meet the food safety requirements of the California Retail Food Code (PDF).
What is "edible food recovery"?
To reduce unnecessary food waste and help address food insecurity, SB 1383 requires that by 2025, the State of California recover and redistribute 20 percent of edible food that would have otherwise been sent to landfills. SB 1383 directs that:
- Jurisdictions establish food recovery programs and strengthen existing recovery networks
- Edible food generators, who qualify as Tier 1 and Tier 2 Generators (described below), recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be landfilled or spoiled
- Food recovery organizations, edible food generators and jurisdictions maintain complete records of the quantity and types of food recovered.
Under SB 1383, the City of Citrus Heights has implemented
Sec. 74-180 - Edible Food Recovery Requirements.
What is an "edible food generator"?
For the recovery of edible food waste, edible food generators are split into two tiers:
Edible Food Recovery
1. What is Senate Bill (SB) 1383?
SB 1383 is a California bill that sets goals to reduce the disposal of organic waste in landfills, including edible food, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
2. Why Recover Edible Food?
- Save Food: Californians send over 6 million tons of food scraps or food waste to landfills each year, of which almost 1 million tons are potentially donatable, edible food.
- Feed People: Over 9 million Californians (23%) don’t know where their next meal will come from.
- Fight Climate Change: Food in landfills emits greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.
3. When Do I Need to Have a Contract in Place and Begin Recovering Food and Keeping Records?
Tier 1 Business - Began January 1, 2022 Tier 2 Business- Beginning January 1, 2024
– Supermarkets – Restaurants (≥ 5,000 sq. ft. or 250+ seats)
– Grocery stores (10,000+ sq. ft.) – Hotels with an on-site food facility and 200+ rooms
– Food service providers – Health facilities with on-site food facility and 100+ beds
– Food distributors – Large venues and events
– Wholesale food vendors – State agencies with a cafeteria (≥ 5,000 sq. ft. or 250+ seats)
– Local education agencies with an on-site food facility
. How Do I Get Started?
- Learn more about the requirements! For more information and model contracts, please visit: www.calrecycle.ca.gov/Organics/SLCP/FoodRecovery
- Connect! Find a food recovery organization using our list: https://www.citrusheights.net/1226/Edible-Food-Recovery
5. How Can I Reduce the Amount of Surplus Food We Have?
Visit the EPA’s website for tips and toolkits to reduce surplus food as the first step in the food recovery hierarchy.
6. What Foods Can Be Donated?
Almost anything you serve or sell can be donated, including meats and dairy, produce and packaged and prepared foods, even if they are close to their expiration date. Edible food means food intended for people to eat, including food not sold because of appearance, age, freshness, grade, size, or surplus.
7. Can I Be Held Liable for Donating Food?
The California Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (State) and the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act (National) offers protection if the foods being donated are handled in a safe and sanitary manner.
8. How Do We Ensure the Food is Safe for Distribution?
It is important to maintain the foods that will be donated in the same safe and reasonable manner in which you hold other foods intended to be sold. If you have any other questions, please contact your health inspector at the Sacramento County Environmental Health Management Department: at 916.875.8440.
9. What Happens If I Do Not Comply?
Starting in 2024, progressive enforcement action will begin with a notice of violation, and you may be subject to penalties, as required by SB 1383 regulations and included in Citrus Heights Municipal Code.
Penalties
- » 1st Violation: $50-$100
- » 2nd Violation: $100-$200
- » 3rd+ Violation: $250-$500
Tier 1
Tier 2
List of Edible Food Recovery Organizations Serving Citrus Heights
| Organization Name | Address | Phone | Email/Website | Collection Service Area | Food Types Accepted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridges After School Program | 7085 Auburn Blvd. Citrus Heights | (916) 275-0021 | millard.haynes@sanjuan.edu | Citrus Heights | Shelf-stable/non-perishable food, baked goods |
| Feeding the Sheep | 7405 Mariposa Ave Citrus Heights | (916) 633-8774 | unicorn57lady@yahoo.com | Citrus Heights | Fresh produce, shelf-stable/non-perishable food, fresh grocery/refrigeration, frozen grocery, baked goods |
| Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services | 1951 Bell Ave Sacramento | (916) 925-3240 | pmarshall@sacramentofoodbank.org | Sacramento County; 40-50 mile range | Fresh produce, shelf-stable/non-perishable food, fresh grocery/refrigeration, frozen grocery, baked goods, frozen prepared foods, cold prepared foods |
| Sunrise Christian Food Ministry | 5901 San Juan Ave Citrus Heights | (916)287-1358 | Scfmoffice123@gmail.com | Citrus Heights | Fresh produce, shelf-stable/non-perishable food, fresh grocery/refrigeration, frozen grocery, baked goods, frozen prepared foods, cold prepared foods |
| Copia | Locations Vary | (650) 382-1020 | https://www.gocopia.com/ | Sacramento County; 40-50 mile range | Fresh produce, shelf-stable/non-perishable food, fresh grocery/refrigeration, frozen grocery, baked goods, frozen prepared foods, cold prepared foods |
| GoodR | Locations Vary | (404) 261-0211 | info@goodr.co | 1-30 mile range | Shelf-stable/non-perishable food, fresh grocery/refrigeration, frozen grocery, baked goods, frozen prepared foods, cold prepared foods, hot prepared foods |
| Replate | Locations Vary | (415) 569-0530 | community@replate.org | 1-20 mile range | Fresh produce, shelf-stable/non-perishable food, fresh grocery/refrigeration, frozen grocery, baked goods, frozen prepared foods, cold prepared foods, hot prepared foods |