This guide was created by the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Health (LACDPH) – Environmental Health Division as part of the LA County Food Redistribution Initiative (LACFRI) – www.SaveTheFoodLA.com , to address basic questions about share tables and donations as they pertain to local educational agencies in the County, especially in response to the enactment of SB 557 on January 1, 2018 and state waste reduction laws.
Schools are protected from liability under the federal Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act and the California Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, as are restaurants, grocery stores, and other retail food facilities. Information on these laws is provided in this guide.
Mandatory recycling laws for schools in California
- Effective July 1, 2012, the State’s Mandatory Commercial Recycling law (AB 341) required all institutions, including schools, to arrange for recycling services.
- Beginning April 1, 2016, the State’s Mandatory Organic Waste Recycling law (AB 1826) phased in requirements for institutions, including schools, that generate specified amounts of green waste to arrange for recycling services for that material.
