The United States wastes 38% of its total food supply every year, resulting in an economic drain exceeding $444 billion, approximately 2% of US GDP. The U.S. still has a long way to go to meet the 2030 goal set by the EPA for reducing 50% of food waste by 2030. To tackle this crisis, the solution must move beyond simple recovery and focus on prevention at the source.
Food Waste in California
Californians send 2.5 billion meals worth of still-fresh, unsold food to landfills each year, even though 1 in 5 Californians do not have enough to eat. These households often must choose between eating and basic needs like housing or medical bills.
To reduce food waste and address food insecurity, surplus food that is still safe for people to eat will be donated to food banks, soup kitchens, and other food recovery organizations and services to help feed Californians in need.
This will cut waste sent to landfills and lower methane climate pollution from organic waste rotting in landfills.
- 2.5 billion meals worth of potentially donatable food is landfilled a year.
- This could help feed millions of the 1 in 5 Californians without enough to eat.
The Good News:
California communities have expanded programs to send still-fresh, unsold food from large food businesses to Californians in need.
- About 700 million unsold meals went to Californians in need since food recovery rulesstarted in 2022.
- 217,042 tons of unsold food was recovered by local programs in 2023.
- For 2025, 94% of the target of 231,476 tons has been recovered.
To support non-profit organizations and local efforts, CalRecycle’s grant funds projects that prevent food waste or rescue edible food that would be landfilled to help Californians in need.
CalRecycle’s SB 1383
California is tackling food waste through statewide mandates (SB 1383) requiring cities to implement organic waste collection (composting, renewable fuel) and edible food recovery programs, aiming for 75% reduction in landfill disposal by 2025. This involves mandatory food scraps collection for residents, businesses, and large events, plus boosting donation of surplus food to help reduce methane emissions, support local food systems, and create compost. Individuals can help by planning meals, using leftovers, understanding date labels, and participating in local collection programs. SB 1383 has established guidelines and recommendations to implement a state-wide plan which includes a framework on food recovery and waste management.
CalRecycle’s SB 1383 Edible Food Recovery Goals
SB 1383 requires the state, by 2025, to recover 20% of edible food for human consumption that would otherwise be disposed. This is a statewide goal that California must collectively achieve. It is not a goal for individual jurisdictions to achieve. To achieve this statewide goal, SB 1383’s regulations require commercial edible food generators donate the maximum amount of their edible food that would otherwise be disposed. The regulations also require jurisdictions to implement edible food recovery programs to help increase food recovery throughout the state.
Projects awarded since 2018 have resulted in (data as of September 2025):
- 260 million meals
- 443 local jobs
- 312 million pounds of food kept out of landfills to date
- GHG (Greenhouse Gas) reductions equal to 68,692 cars off the road (294,492 MTCO2e less to date)
Together, we can transform California’s approach to food, turning what was once waste into a sustainable resource that protects our environment and supports our climate goals.
By Vikram Mavalankar, O2I Volunteer