Edible Food Generator Requirements

In order to combat hunger and prevent edible food from going to waste, food service businesses (commercial food generators) are required to donated all surplus edible food to a food recovery organization and maintain records of donations on-site. Businesses required to comply with the edible food generator requirements include Tier 1 and Tier 2 generators: 

Tier 1 and Tier 2 businesses that are required to comply with the edible food generator requirements

Tier 1 Businesses

Required as of January 1, 2022

Tier 2 Businesses

Required as of January 1, 2024
Grocery Stores and Supermarkets Restaurants
Wholesale Food Vendors Large Venues and Events
Food Distributors Hotels
Food Service Providers State Agency Cafeterias

Health Facilities

Local Education Facilities

If your business falls under either tier, you must arrange to recover the maximum amount of edible food that would otherwise go to landfills and maintain records of your compliance. 

The City of Torrance will be inspecting generators for compliance with donating the maximum amount of edible food and recordkeeping, including donation agreements as well as records of weights and food types donated each month. 

Food Recovery Organizations

The City of Torrance recommends working with a local organization to eliminate food waste and provide food to communities in need. 

Organizations that accept prepared food, perishables, and non-perishables

FoodCycle LA
 6636 Selma Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90028 | (323) 897-9696 |www.FoodCycleLA.org|Hello@FoodCycleLA.org
Note: Can accept very large donation quantities.

Food Finders
 10539 Humboldt St., Los Alamitos, CA 90720 | (562) 283-1400 |www.FoodFinders.org
Note: Can accept very large donation quantities.

New Challenge Ministries
 18801 Crenshaw Pl., Torrance, CA 90504 | (310) 320-4171 |www.NewChallengeMinistries.org

Community’s Child
 18807 Crenshaw Pl., Torrance, CA 90504 | (310) 538-6829 |www.CommunitysChild.org

No home-grown or home-made foods will be accepted at any location. 

Organizations that accept only non-perishable foods

The Volunteer Center
South Bay-Harbor-Long Beach
1230 Cravens Ave., Torrance, CA 90501 | (310) 212-5009 |www.VolCenter.org
Note: Does not accept glass containers, bulk-size items or expired food.

Organizations that only accept produce

Food Forward
5600 Rickenbacker Rd., Suite 2E., Bell, CA 90201 | (562) 565-9815 |www.FoodForward.org/Donate-Food
Note: Accepts commercial and individual produce donations. Can also arrange backyard tree harvests.

See our Where to Donate Flyer(PDF, 1MB)

 

Recordkeeping Checklist

SB 1383 requires the following records be available on-site at the time of inspection: 

  • A copy of contracts or written agreements with a food recovery service or organization. 
  • A list of each food recovery service or organization that collects/receives edible food. 
  • The name, address, and contact information of the food recovery service or organization. 
  • The types of food donated. 
  • The established frequency of food donation(s).
  • The quantity of food donated (must be tracked by pounds per month). 

Simplify Donations with Careit!

The City of Torrance is partnering with Careit, a digital food donation marketplace that matches any type of business with extra edible food to a nearby nonprofit.

Careit is free for Torrance businesses and non-profits and simplifies the donation process by having recordkeeping all in one place! Active donations on Careit will automatically put your business in compliance with SB 1383 regulations.

How it Works

  1. Download the Careit app and login in to post available food donations.
  2. Non-profits reserve the donations and complete the donation by entering the final weights.
  3. Businesses on the app can view a list of their donations, including all the recordkeeping requirements such as the auto-generated written agreement with food recovery organizations and the weights of donations. 

Resources

Edible Food Generator Requirements PDF(PDF, 1MB)

CalRecycle - Find more information including models for recordkeeping and Food Recovery Agreements 

 

 

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