Reduce Wasted Surplus Food First

Before focusing on surplus food donation, consider operational changes that can reduce how much edible food goes unused in the first place — such as improved inventory management, menu planning, portion adjustments, and staff training.

For practical tools and programs to help your business reduce food waste at the source, visit Reducing Food Waste for Businesses.

Who Must Comply

California State law SB 1383 requires certain food-generating businesses to recover surplus edible food and make it available for donation rather than sending it to the landfill. The goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions while helping to nourish communities across Alameda County.

Tier 1

  • Supermarkets with $2 million or more in annual gross sales
  • Grocery stores exceeding 10,000 square feet
  • Food service providers (caterers, cafeterias)
  • Food distributors
  • Wholesale food vendors

Tier 2

  • Hotels with 200 or more rooms
  • Health facilities with 100 or more beds
  • Large venues and events with 2,000+ daily attendees
  • Restaurants exceeding 5,000 square feet OR with 250+ seats
  • State agency facilities with on-site food service
  • Local education agencies (public schools and districts)

If your organization generates significant amounts of edible surplus food, you may be subject to these requirements even if you don't fit the categories above exactly. Contact StopWaste to verify.

Three Core Requirements

If your business is covered by SB 1383, you must:

  1. Have a written agreement with at least one food recovery organization or service to pick up or receive your surplus edible food.
  2. Maintain monthly records of the type, frequency, and pounds of food donated.
  3. Donate the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be discarded—or document a strategy to minimize surplus.

Citations and fines up to $500 are being issued for non-compliance. Inspectors may arrive unannounced to check for written agreements and monthly donation records. If you've received a notice, visit the Citations & Enforcement section to learn more.

Food Recovery Requirements in Alameda County

This document provides an overview of the rules under California law SB 1383 requiring certain food-generating sites to recover surplus edible food and donate it to nourish people instead of sending it to landfill or composting.

How to Comply

measuring food in a kitchen to reduce waste

1. Assess Your Surplus Edible Food

Find out if your business is required to donate surplus food under SB 1383, and learn how to assess the edible food your operation generates.
Hope for the Heart volunteer helps sort food for donation

2. Find a Food Recovery Partner

Search for food recovery organizations in Alameda County that can pick up and redistribute your surplus edible food.
woman signing an agreement

3. Establish a Donation Process

Set up a written agreement with a food recovery organization, establish donation procedures, and train your staff.
spreadsheet on a laptop

4. Track Donations and Keep Records

Monthly record-keeping is required under SB 1383. Download tracking forms, learn about tax benefits, and find out about alternative compliance options.
mosaic of businesses that produce surplus edible food

RESOURCES

Resources by Industry

Tailored guides are available for your specific business type, including grocery stores, restaurants, schools, hotels, health facilities, and wholesale distributors.
VIEW INDUSTRY GUIDES

Additional Resources

Loading edible food for donation in Alameda County

Food Donation FAQ

Common questions about SB 1383 food recovery requirements, including waivers, record-keeping, liability protection, and what to do if your donations are declined.
Use by label on milk jugs

Food Safety & Date Labels

Understanding date labels helps maximize safe food donations. Learn which foods can be donated past their printed dates and what to always exclude.

For Food Recovery Organizations

Food recovery organizations must maintain monthly records of food recovered from commercial generators and submit annual reports. Learn about compliance steps and reporting deadlines.
Man weighing tray of food

CASE STUDIES

Business Food Waste Reduction Success Stories

Real-world examples of businesses and institutions in Alameda County that have successfully reduced food waste, recovered surplus food, and saved money.
Read Case Studies

Get Free Help

StopWaste offers free personalized assistance to help you set up your food recovery program—including surplus food assessment, agreement setup, staff training, and record-keeping processes.
REQUEST HELP