SB 1383: Organic Recycling and Food Recovery

SB 1383 Overview 

CA Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383) aims to reduce the amount of organic matter in landfills to reduce the amount of methane emissions generated and recover excess edible food to feed people in need. The following statewide targets need to be met:

• Reduce organic waste disposal 75% by 2025. 
• Rescue for people to eat at least 20% of currently disposed surplus food by 2025.

Californians send 11.2 billion pounds of food to landfills each year, a lot of that food is edible for human consumption. In San Diego County, 1 in 4 residents are food insecure and do not know when and where their next meal is coming from. To reduce the amount of food waste and feed more Californians, SB 1383 requires certain food generating businesses to donate surplus edible food to food recovery organizations.  

SB 1383  Organic Recycling Requirements

All residents and businesses living in CA will be required to divert their organics waste from landfill. "Organic waste" includes food scraps, food soiled paper , yard trimmings and natural fibers.   

To comply, all residents and businesses alike must:

• subscribe to an organics curbside collection service OR
• self-haul organic waste to a composting facility or compost on site. 

Organic recycling compliance for all regulated businesses has been in effect since January 1, 2022.  

SB 1383 Food Recovery Requirements 

SB 1383 requires certain food-generating businesses to donate their surplus edible food to people in need. Feeding hungry people through food recovery is the best use of surplus food and a vital way for California to conserve resources and reduce waste thrown in landfills. 

How to Donate

The County of San Diego has prepared the following information for businesses that want to participate in a food donation program:

• Food Donation Guide for Businesses in San Diego County (PDF)
• A Safe Food Handling for Donation Checklist in San Diego County (PDF)
• List of Food Donation Organizations

Edible Food Recovery Resources

• SB 1383 Food Recovery Requirements Overview
• SB 1383 Requerimientos para recuperar alimentos
• Food donation Liability Protections and Food Safety
• Protección de Responsabilidad para Donación de Alimentos y Salud Alimentaria 
• 5 Steps: Maintaining a food donation program
• 5 Pasos para comenzar y mantener un programa de donación de alimentos
• Food donation and tax deductions
• Deducciones fiscales de la donación de alimentos
• Food recovery partnership agreement
• Acuerdo de asociación para la recuperación de alimentos
• Food waste prevention for commercial kitchens
• Prevención de desperdicio de alimentos para cocinas comerciales

Calrecycle - Frequently Asked Questions about Implementing SB 1383

Technical assistance: Free technical assistance is provided by the City's consultant, Solana Center. Contact zerowaste@solanacenter.org to schedule a consultation or call (760) 436-7986 ext. 701.