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• Does my business need to donate surplus edible food? (Defining Tier 1 & Tier 2 Generators)

  If a business does not meet one of the below definitions, they will not be required to donate surplus edible food. However, food donation is still encouraged and is an excellent way of helping to meet the state & local requirements of diverting food from the landfill. 

  Please review the following definitions to determine whether your business is categorized as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Commercial Edible Food Generator. 

  The following Tier 1 Generators will be required to arrange for the maximum amount of surplus edible food recovery, and have donation contract(s) in place, starting Jan 1, 2022:

  • Food Distributor is defined as a company that distributes food to entities including, but not limited to, supermarkets and grocery stores.
  • Wholesale Food Vendor is defined as a business or establishment engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of food, where food (including fruits and vegetables) is received, shipped, stored, prepared for distribution to a retailer, warehouse, distributor, or other destination.
  • Food Service Provider is defined as an entity primarily engaged in providing food services to institutional, governmental, commercial, or industrial locations or others based on contractual arrangements with these types of organizations.
  • Grocery Store is defined as a store primarily engaged in the retail sale of canned food; dry goods; fresh fruits and vegetables; fresh meats, fish, and poultry; and any area that is not separately owned within the store where the food is prepared and served, including a bakery, deli, and meat and seafood departments, with a total facility size equal to or greater than 10,000 square feet.  
  • Supermarket (or Variety Store with Groceries) is defined as a full-line, self-service retail store with gross annual sales of two million dollars ($2,000,000), or more, and which sells a line of dry grocery, canned goods, or nonfood items and some perishable items.

   

  The following Tier 2 Generators will be required to arrange for the maximum amount of surplus edible food recovery, and have donation contract(s) in place, starting Jan 1, 2024:

  • Restaurant is defined as with an establishment primarily engaged in the retail sale of food and drinks for on-premises or immediate consumption with 250 or more seats, OR a total facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet.
  • Health facility has the same meaning as in Section 1250 of the Health and Safety Code, with an on-site food facility and 100 or more beds,
  • Hotel has the same meaning as in Section 17210 of the Business and Professions code, with an on-site food facility and 200 or more rooms,
  • Large Venue means a permanent venue facility that annually seats or serves an average of more than 2,000 individuals within the grounds of the facility per day of operation of the venue facility.
    • For the purposes of this bill, a venue facility includes, but is not limited to, a public, nonprofit, or privately owned or operated stadium, amphitheater, arena, hall, amusement park, conference or civic center, zoo, aquarium, airport, racetrack, horse track, performing arts center, fairground, museum, theater, or other public attraction facility. 
    • For the purposes of this bill, a site under common ownership or control that includes more than one large venue that is 1 contiguous with other large venues in the site, is a single large venue.
  • Large Event means an event, including, but not limited to, a sporting event or a flea market, that charges an admission price, or is operated by a local agency, and serves an average of more than 2,000 individuals per day of operation of the event, at a location that includes, but is not limited to, a public, nonprofit, or privately owned park, parking lot, golf course, street system, or other open space when being used for an event. 
  • Local Education Agency is defined as a school district, charter school, or county office of education that is not subject to the control of city or county regulations related to solid waste, with an on-site food facility.
  • State Agencies with a cafeteria with 250 or more seats or a total cafeteria facility size equal to or greater than 5,000 square feet.  

  For additional assistance in determining whether your business is a Tier 1 or Tier 2 Commercial Edible Food Generator, please contact recycle@sdcounty.ca.gov.  

• Requirements for Tier 1 and Tier 2 Edible Food Generators

  If your business is a Tier 1 or Tier 2 commercial edible food generator, as identified above, there are certain requirements that must be met.

  • Maintain contracts with food recovery organizations and services to arrange for the maximum amount of surplus edible food recovery. This may mean contracting with multiple agencies depending on an agency’s capacity to recover certain types of food, or food recovery frequency, relative to what your business generates.
    • See Resources below for a food recovery partnership form.
  • Maintain records that include a list of each food recovery organization or service that collects or receives your surplus edible food and copies of contracts/written agreements with food recovery organizations and/or services. Additionally, records are to include the name, address, and contact information of each food recovery organization and/or service, as well as the types of food and frequency of donation.
    • Businesses must also maintain records of the quantities of surplus edible food recovered (in pounds per month) and make all records and contracts available to the County during inspections. 
  • Noncompliance is subject to an Administrative Citation with escalating penalties.

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• Food Donation Resources
  • Food Recovery Organizations: A Guide to SB 1383
  • Food Recovery Partnership Form
  • List of Food Recovery Organizations
  • SB 1383 Food Recovery Compliance Guide
  • Food Donation Checklist & Food Safety Guide
  • Food Donation: Liability FAQ's 
    • English │  Spanish
  • USDA Food Donation Information
  • Food Waste Prevention & Donation Newsletter
  • Food Donor CalRecycle Webpage
  • Food Recovery Organization CalRecycle Webpage
  • IRS Charitable Contribution Deductions
• Local Food Waste Prevention Groups
  • San Diego North County Alliance - The North County Food Policy Council meets every other month to address the unmet food security needs of the residents of North County and to increase access to a secure and nutritionally quality food supply and food shed. To learn more or sign up for meeting notifications, click here.