Food Recovery

By 2025, California's goal is to redirect 20% of edible food currently thrown away to people in need. All jurisdictions in the state are required to establish food recovery programs and strengthen existing food recovery networks.

Food Recovery banner

What is edible food?

Edible food is food intended for people to eat, including prepared foods, packaged foods. produce and food not sold because of appearance, age, freshness, grade, or surplus.

Why edible food recovery?

  • Addresses the local food insecurity crisis by making edible food available to people in need of nourishment.
  • Slows down the impacts of climate change by keeping organics out of landfills, which results in the release of methane, a greenhouse gas 25 times more powerful than carbon dioxide (CO2).
Food Recovery Hierarchy
Edible Food Generators

What is required from Tier 1/Tier 2 Commercial Food Generators?

Recover Excess Edible Food

Recover (for human consumption) the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise be disposed of. 

Establish contracts or written agreements with food recovery organizations and services

Donate, arrange, or pay for the food to be recovered by a food recovery organization or service.

Maintain Recordkeeping

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

What is required from Food recovery Services and Organizations?

Food Recovery Services collect and transport edible food from Tier 1/Tier 2 Commercial Food Generators to food recovery organizations. 

Food Recovery Organizations include food banks and nonprofits that engage in the collection or receipt of edible food from Tier 1/Tier 2 Commercial Food Generators and distributes that food to the public.

Establish contracts or written agreements with commercial food generators

Maintain Recordkeeping 

  • Quantity donated in pounds per calendar year from each commercial food generator
  • Report to the jurisdiction where company's primary address is physically located

Local Food Recovery Organizations

Malibu Boys & Girls Club

  • 30215 Morning View Drive, Malibu, CA 90265
  • Types of Food Accepted: Produce, Meat, Prepared Food, Dry Food, Canned Food, Dairy Products, Baked Goods
  • Donations: Accepted Monday - Thursday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM; contact Siugen Constanza, BGCM Director of Community Affairs & Outreach emergencyrelief@bgcmalibu.org or 310-457-6801 ext. 74141 
  • Provides Transportation: Yes

Malibu Community Labor Exchange

  • 23595 Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA 90265
  • Types of Food Accepted: Produce, Dry Food, Canned Food, Baked Goods
  • Donations: Contactmalibucle@gmail.com or 310-317-4717
  • Provides Transportation: Yes 

Malibu CART – Not accepting food donations currently

Malibu United Methodist Church – Not accepting food donations currently

Malibu Senior Center – Not operating or accepting food donations during COVID-19

  • 23825 Stuart Ranch Road, Malibu, CA 90265
  • Types of Food Accepted: Baked Goods
  • Provides Transportation: No

The Salvation Army Santa Monica Corps

  • 1533 4th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401
  • Types of Food Accepted: Dry Food, Canned Food, Produce, Baked Goods, Dairy Products
  • Donations: Accepted Monday - Friday 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM; call 800-728-7825 before donating
  • Provides Transportation: No

Westside Food Bank

  • 1710 22nd Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404
  • Types of Food Accepted: Produce, Meat, Prepared Food, Dry Food, Canned Food, Dairy Products, Baked Goods
  • Donations: Accepted Monday - Friday 7:00 AM- 2:00 PM; call 310-828-6016 before donating
  • Provides Transportation: No

Food Waste Prevention

Source Reduction or Food Waste Prevention is the most preferred method of the food recovery hierarchy. Below are some resources to help businesses reduce food waste.

Resources