Food Recovery Program

Food Insecurity

Californians send 11.2 billion pounds of food to landfills each year, some of which was still fresh enough to have been recovered to feed people in need. While billions of meals go to waste, millions of Californians don’t have enough to eat. 

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The City is working with Republic Services and the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments in creating an excess edible food recovery program for commercial businesses in compliance with California State Senate Bill 1383.

Senate Bill 1383

Beginning January 1, 2022, certain types of businesses (labeled as edible food generators) will be required to donate all of their excess edible food to food recovery organizations and services. Tier 1 Businesses are required to donate starting in 2022, and Tier 2 Businesses are required to donate starting in 2024.

EFGs

Per the State’s regulation, mandated edible food generators (both Tier 1 and Tier 2 edible food generators) must:

  1. Arrange to recover the maximum amount of excess edible food that would otherwise go to landfills.
  2. Either establish a written agreement or complete the City’s Food Recovery Partnership Form with partnering organizations/services that accept edible food.
  3. Maintain records of all edible food recovery activities and receipts. Submit either written agreements or the City’s Food Recovery Partnership Form in collaboration with food recovery organization(s) to the City each year.

All food donations must meet the food safety requirements of the California Retail Food Code. Donations are protected by The Good Samaritan Act and can be used as a tax write-off.

An explanation of all requirements, as well as additional resources, for edible food generators can be found here.


Establishing Contracts and Written Agreements with Food Recovery Organizations and Services

To ensure that the maximum amount of edible food is recovered, the regulations require that mandated food donors establish contracts or written agreements with food recovery organizations and services.

Food recovery organizations and services vary in the amount and types of food they can receive, so mandated food donors may need to establish contracts or written agreements with multiple food recovery organizations and services to be in compliance.

Edible food generators can use either CalRecycle's Model Food Recovery Agreement or the City of Alhambra's Food Recovery Partnership Form. Please complete either document and email it to the City annually at recycle@cityofalhambra.org. 


Recordkeeping

SB 1383 requires mandated food donors to maintain records of their food donation activities. 

The City of Alhambra will monitor compliance of edible food generators by requesting the following types of records during inspections:

  • Contract or written agreement for food recovery organizations and services.
  • Schedules for food donation deliveries or collections.
  • Quantity of food donated in pounds per month.
  • Types of food each food recovery organization will receive or collect.

Food recovery organizations and services that have a contract or written agreement with a mandated food donor are required to maintain records of the food they receive from each mandated food donor. This includes:

  • The name, address, and contact information for each edible food generator that the organization received edible food from.
  • The quantity in pounds of edible food collected from each edible food generator per month.
  • The name, address, and contact information for each food recovery service that the organization receives edible food from for food recovery.

CalRecycle released a Model Recordkeeping Tool for food recovery organizations and services. 


Local Food Recovery Organizations & Services

Please contact each agency below directly to establish a written contract or agreement.

Additional food recovery organizations can be found on LA County’s Food Drop Program.

Contact Us

  1. Joris Eigirdas

    Recycling Assistant
    jeigirdas@cityofalhambra.org
    More Information

Important Documents

  1. EFGs Flyer
  2. Food Recovery Agencies
  3. Food Recovery Agreement Form

Food Recovery Agencies

Agency Physical Address Collection Service Area Type of Food Accepted Contact Distribution
Alhambra Teachers Association (ATA) 3030 W. Main Street, Alhambra, CA 91801 San Gabriel Valley Fresh and frozen donations of all kinds. Will accept diapers, baby formula, baby food, adult diapers, and occasionally childrens’ clothing and school supplies. (626) 289-1933 Food distribution is alternating Wednesdays 9:00a.m. – 12:00p.m. ATA does not ask for ID and will never turn anyone away. Visit ATA's Facebook page for more information. Call directly if dates do not work.
All Souls Catholic Church 29 S Electric Ave., Alhambra, CA 91801 San Gabriel Valley All nonperishables, fresh fruits, and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, and fish. (626) 281-0466,
allsoulscc@allsouls-la.org

Food distribution is once a month (third Thursday from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.). Call office directly for more information.
Asian Youth Center 100 W. Clary Ave,
San Gabriel, CA 91776
 San Gabriel Valley Nonperishable, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry and fish. Also accept hygiene products, feminine products, adult diapers, and baby items. Yajaira Mansilla: Food Program Manager, (626) 536-3421, yajaira.mansilla@aycla.org Food distribution is every Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. and every Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. For more information, please call (310) 628-1994.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation 9620 Flair Drive, El Monte, CA 91731 San Gabriel Valley Preference for fresh fruits and vegetables. Please schedule an appointment before donating.

• Flora Yeh: Volunteer coordinator of Charity Programs, Tzu Chi Foundation Headquarters, (310) 420-7762, wutzuyuan@gmail.com

• James Chen: Director of San Gabriel Valley Service Center, (626)757-6379, jamesjchen1688@gmail.com

• Sabrina Ho: Program Manager, (909) 447-7799 extension 6611, sabrina_ho@tzuchi.us
 Food distribution is by appointment and every 2nd Saturday, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. in Gabrielino High School (subject to change without notice).
First Baptist Church of Alhambra 101 S Atlantic Blvd. Alhambra, CA 91801 County of Los Angeles All nonperishables, fresh fruits, and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, and fish. Alex Liao: Director of Chinese Ministries, (626) 822-1508, liao989@gmail.com Food distribution is every Thursday from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m., or until the food is gone. They begin registration at 12:00 p.m. They ask for names, addresses, and how many people are in the household, but won't ever ask for proof of address.
Food Finders 10539 Humbolt St., Los Alamitos, CA 90720 County of Los Angeles All nonperishables, fresh fruits, and vegetables, dairy products, meat, poultry, fish, and pre-made food.
Please contact Mark Eden directly to schedule collection pickup dates directly from your business.

Mark Eden: 
(562) 283-1400 extension 105, meden@foodfinders.org
 Food is picked up directly from businesses through Food Forward and donated to other food pantries for no charge to you. 

More information on SB 1383’s food recovery requirements and additional resources can be found on CalRecycle’s website and LA County's Food Drop Program website.


Educational Resources

The City of Alhambra has many resources to assist you in setting up your food recovery program at your business.

Edible Food Generators - InfoSheet Opens in new window

Info Sheet on Requirements

Edible Food Generators - InfoSheet_Page_3 Opens in new window
Local Food Recovery Agencies List
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 Written Agreement Template




Monitoring for Compliance

The City’s priority is to provide the support your business needs to become compliant before issuing formal enforcement actions. Commercial edible food generators are subject to inspections to monitor compliance with the edible food recovery requirements set forth above. Non-compliant generators will be notified of violations and provided educational resources and program support. Continued and substantial non-compliance may result in fines. 

Questions or Concerns?

Please complete the "Contact Us" form below or email recycle@cityofalhambra.org for any questions regarding Alhambra's Food Recovery program or to submit a claim of alleged violations of SB 1383.

If you are submitting an SB 1383 violation complaint, please include the following:

  1. If the complaint is not anonymous, the name and contact information of the complainant. 
  2. The identity of the alleged violator, if known. 
  3. A description of the alleged violation including location(s) and all other relevant facts known to the complainant. 
  4. Any relevant photographic or documentary evidence to support the allegations in the complaint. 
  5. The identity of any witnesses, if known.

Contact Us

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  11. This field is not part of the form submission.