Under California's SB 1383, food waste generators are classified into two tiers based on the amount of organic waste they generate annually. Tier 1 food waste generators are large producers, typically generating 2 or more cubic yards of organic waste per week. Examples of Tier 1 generators include supermarkets, hotels, and large restaurants. Tier 2 food waste generators are smaller producers, generally generating between 0.5 and 2 cubic yards of organic waste per week. This category includes smaller restaurants, grocery stores, and food service businesses.
The Environmental Services Department (ESD) have identified all Tier 1 and Tier 2 generators in San Diego and is providing assistance in establishing food recycling and composting programs.
ESD is currently conducting education & outreach via site visits and confirming food donation is already in place and/or helping establish a food donation program with the site. ESD has conducted educational site visits to 198 of 258 Tier 1s. While the initial list was almost completed, in CY2024 the city added more than 60 new T1 businesses to the list when reviewing FRO donation records. Of the sites visited, approximately 136 (61%) have provided proof of a written agreement with a Food Recovery Organization (FRO). ESD is making steady progress on conducting educational site visits to the Tier 2 generators – 110 of 275 have received a visit.
For information and resources on food recycling and recovery, see the Environmental Services Department's Commercial Food Scraps Composting page.
The Environmental Services Department is currently conducting Education & Outreach via site visits and confirming food donation is already in place and/or helping establish a food donation program with the site.