SAN DIEGO — Among the new laws for California is one designed to reduce waste in our landfills, all while feeding more people in need. Senate Bill 1383 first went into effect in 2022 requiring certain businesses, such as grocery stores, to donate unused food to food recovery organizations.
As of January 1, 2024, the law expanded to include hotels, restaurants with more than 5,000 square feet or more than 250 seats, health facilities with onsite food facilities and more than 100 beds, state agency cafeterias, local education agencies and large venues and events.
“This bill is really a win-win. It's keeping food out of the landfill and it's feeding people at the same time. There's so much food that gets thrown into the landfill and when it goes into the landfill it turns into methane gas. It’s a super pollutant. That is actually the main reason that this bill was passed, was to keep that food and other organic waste out of the landfill," said Patty O’Connor, Chief Operating Officer of Feeding San Diego.
In fact, the small compost bins the City of San Diego passed out last year came from SB-1383.
But, not all leftover food from large venues can be donated.
O'Connor said there are strict guidelines to ensure everything is safe.
"You can't take it out of the buffet and then donate it because there's just been too many people interacting with it. If there's food that's been hot, it needs to be chilled to a certain temperature and ideally frozen," said O’Connor.
O'Connor admitted implementing the new law takes a lot of work, something Feeding San Diego is more than willing to do. For example, they're the ones who coordinate donation pickups.
“We connect the food donor, the grocery store or the venue with our partner and we have that partner go directly to pick it up and bring it back to the community,” said O’Connor.
That model eliminates the need for additional warehouse space since most donations are distributed immediately.
Feeding San Diego already works with the San Diego Zoo, as well as the Hotel Del Coronado.
O'Connor expects more venues will jump on board soon, saying if they need any assistance doing so, they're here to help.
“This is what we do, day in and day out,” said O’Connor.
Seventy-six percent of what the organization distributes is rescued, meaning items that could have been thrown away were instead donated.
SB-1383 looks to increase those numbers, yet O’Connor says even with the new donations, they’re always in need of more.
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