What is Edible Food Recovery?
Edible food recovery is the act of diverting surplus edible food from businesses, organizations, or events that otherwise would previously have been disposed of in a landfill or sent to compost. This recovery service is carried out by food recovery organizations, such as food banks and other community-based organizations.
Edible Food Recovery helps eradicate food insecurity and waste and may lessen the effects of climate change by reducing methane gas emissions. You must contract for Edible Food Recovery services just like your other waste and recycling services. In Stanislaus County, and throughout the State of California, edible food recovery is now a mandatory program for many food generators and failure to arrange for adequate services will result in fines and penalties.
Edible Food Recovery Requirements
The law phases food donors under two tiers. The first tier is required to donate starting in 2022. The second tier is required to donate starting in 2024. Mandated food donors can help their communities now by starting to work with local food banks, food pantries, and other food recovery organizations and services.
Establishing Contracts and Written Agreements
To ensure that the maximum amount of edible food is recovered, the regulations require that mandated food donors establish contracts or written agreements with food recovery organizations and services. Food recovery organizations and services vary in the amount and types of food they can receive, so mandated food donors may need to establish contracts or written agreements with multiple food recovery organizations and services to be in compliance.
Recordkeeping
The law requires mandated food donors to maintain records of their food donation activities.
CalRecycle has developed a model recordkeeping tool that commercial edible food generators can use to ensure compliance with recordkeeping requirements. The use of this specific tool is optional.