SMART BUSINESS RECYCLING NEWSLETTER 3rd QUARTER
In the United States, approximately 40% of all food is wasted. Worldwide each year, more than a billion tons of food end up unconsumed. The land required to produce the global food wasted would roughly be the size of China and the pile of food would be the third largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world. On the other hand, 1 out of 8 people in Los Angeles County are food insecure.
News
Large Venues Clamp Down on Food Waste
Large venues and institutions, from school cafeterias to airports are working to tackle food waste. Managers of these large venues realize that by diverting much of the massive volumes that are generated daily, or by preventing food waste in first place, they can have an enormous impact on the environment while helping their bottom line. To learn more about this article, click here.
A food recovery coalition in Marin County, California, ExtraFood.org, is helping solve hunger in Marin County
ExtraFood.org's mission is to help end hunger and waste in Marin County, California. In Marin, 49,000 people worry about where their next meal is coming from. ExtraFood fills a gap in the County's food system by operating an innovative, county-wide food recovery program, picking up excess food from commercial organizations and immediately delivering it to nonprofits that serve Marin's most vulnerable children, adults, and families. To learn more about this program, click here.
EPA's Guide on How to Reduce Food Waste
EPA has developed a guide on how to reduce food waste for businesses and institutions. This guidance introduces several actions Businesses can take to reduce food waste at their facility and highlights successful examples in place at several businesses and institutions. While this guide was intended for businesses and institutions in Massachusetts, the information is applicale to businesses in California. To learn more click here.
Los Angeles County Food Donation Resources - Department of Public Health
The Los Angeles County Food Redistribution Initiative (LACFRI) began in 2016 and aims to provide resources to the public about safe methods to prevent, donate and recycle excess food, as well as support policies that divert food from landfills. Participants include several county departments, businesses, community members, and nonprofit organizations. To learn more about LACFRI click here.
Laws/Ordinances
Food Donation Liability Information
State and Federal Food Donation Statutes protect you from liability:
Below is a summary of each Statutes:
- California Health and Safety Code, Section 114432
Any food facility may donate food to a food bank or to any other nonprofit charitable organization for distribution to persons free of charge. To learn more click here.
- California Health and Safety Code, Section 114433
No food facility that donates food as permitted by Section 114432 shall be subject to civil or criminal liability or penalty for violation of any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the labeling or packaging of the donated product or, with respect to any laws, regulations, or ordinances, for a violation occurring after the time of donation. To learn more click here.
- California Civil Code, Section 1714.25(a)
Except for injury resulting from negligence or a willful act in the preparation or handling of donated food, no food facility that donates any food that is fit for human consumption at the time it was donated to a nonprofit charitable organization or a food bank shall be liable for any damage or injury resulting from the consumption of the donated food. The immunity from civil liability provided by this subdivision applies regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the packaging or labeling of food, and regardless of compliance with any laws, regulations, or ordinances regulating the storage or handling of the food by the donator after the donation of food. To learn more click here.
- United States Code, Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, Title 42, Chapter 13A, Section 1791 (c)(1)
A person or gleaner shall not be subject to civil or criminal liability arising from the nature, age, packaging, or condition of apparently wholesome food or an apparently fit grocery product that the person or gleaner donates in good faith to a nonprofit organization for ultimate distribution to needy individuals.
This section shall not be construed to create any liability. Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede State or local health regulations. To learn more click here.