SENATE BILL 1383: CALIFORNIA’S SHORT-LIVED CLIMATE POLLUTANT REDUCTION STRATEGY

PREVENTION OF FOOD WASTE

POSTED ON: JUNE 27, 2022 - 11:10AM

SB 1383 is state legislation intended to reduce emissions of methane as part of California’s efforts to affect global warming and climate change.  As part of the legislation, the city of Portola is obligated to inform residents and businesses about the reduction of food waste and local opportunities to donate edible food to further prevent waste.

Typically, food that is not eaten is disposed of in landfills, where it decomposes and produces methane.  The US Environmental Protection Agency has identified methane as a potent greenhouse gas and a driver of global warming https://www.epa.gov/gmi/importance-methane.

The state agency CalRecycle has been tasked in the SB 1383 legislation to lead efforts in California to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, including methane emissions from landfills.  Reduction of food waste disposal (and other organic materials such as yard waste) is key to meeting the state’s ambitious climate goals.  Information on reduction of disposal of organic wastes is provided on a CalRecycle website https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/

To help reduce the amount of food waste families generate and dispose, an excellent resource is the website Stop Food Waste https://stopfoodwaste.org/ .  There, you will find useful information, including food saving tips to help you store food longer and avoid purchasing too much at the grocery store.

Locally, the Eastern Plumas Community Assistance Network https://www.plumascounty.us/2697/Donate-Food accepts donations of edible food and cash.   EPCAN, located at 120 Nevada St., also provides those with food insecurity with regular distribution of perishables and commodities.  Call (530) 832-4570 for days and hours of food distribution operations.

Generators of food waste, such as grocery stores and restaurants, are affected by SB 1383 regulations.

Starting in 2022, Tier 1 generators – such as grocery stores with greater than $2,000,000 of annual gross revenues – are required to arrange for the recovery of the maximum amount of edible, surplus food which would otherwise be disposed of as garbage.  Tier 1 generators are also required to have a written agreement with a food recovery organization and maintain records on the types of food recovered, collection frequency and pounds per month of food donated.

Tier 2 businesses, such as restaurants and small grocery stores, are required to comply with the SB 1383 food donation and recordkeeping requirements on January 1, 2024.

Additional information on Tier 1 and 2 commercial food generators and state regulatory requirements can be found on a CalRecycle webpage https://calrecycle.ca.gov/organics/slcp/foodrecovery/donors/