RecycleSmart Tier II Edible Food Generator Outreach

Client: RecycleSmart
Date: October 2023 - March 2024

Highlights:
√  During site visits, generators received copies of letters explaining compliance requirements as well informational pamphlets from RecycleSmart.
√  Although many generators had informal edible food recovery plans, Envirolutions provided information for how organizations should track food recovery in order to be compliant with SB 1383.
√  Envirolutions provided generators with a comprehensive view of SB 1383 for front and back of house operations by helping to identify what foods could be donated and how to properly dispose of food that could not be recovered.
√  Envirolutions provided RecycleSmart with feedback from generators and food recovery organizations on how better to provide tools and support with implementing the edible food recovery requirements of SB 1383.

Outreach Overview:
Envirolutions Consulting provided outreach to Tier II edible food generators as identified under Senate Bill (SB) 1383 on behalf of RecycleSmart, or the Central Contra Costa Solid Waste Authority. RecycleSmart’s jurisdiction is in Northern California and includes the 6 “member agencies” of Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Orinda, Moraga, and parts of Unincorporated Contra Costa County. SB 1383, or the Short-lived Climate Reduction Act, seeks to mitigate the amount of methane emitted into our atmosphere through diverting waste into organics processing rather than landfills as well as reducing food waste overall. Tier I and II generators are large food waste generators as determined by parameters identified by the state. For this project, these generators included hotels, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, golf courses, restaurants and a university. Envirolutions was tasked with collecting information about each organization's edible food recovery plans and helping to bring these sites into compliance through signing a contract with edible food recovery partner organization. The primary food recovery organization operating in the RecycleSmart service area is known as White Pony Express.

Data Collected:
Of the 23 generators RecycleSmart Tier II generators:
√  100% were contacted via email and phone calls
√  96% of generators received site visits
√  57% received technical assistance
√  22 provided updated contact information.
√  8 sites signed new contracts established with White Pony Express
√  2 new edible food recovery organizations were discovered working in the county and put into contact with RecycleSmart