Solana Center and Encinitas staff report SB 1383 outreach, inspections increased food donations but barriers persist

Encinitas 'At the March meeting of the Encinitas Environmental Commission, representatives from the Solana Center for Environmental Innovation and city staff described progress and remaining challenges implementing California's SB 1383 edible-food recovery requirements in the San Diego region and in Encinitas.

The nut graf: Solana Center staff told commissioners their outreach and technical assistance are increasing the number of regulated food businesses with donation programs, but municipal enforcement, logistics and supply-chain constraints still limit recovery. City staff said Encinitas has been among the more proactive jurisdictions in enforcement and that usual enforcement tools (grace periods, notices of violation) are being applied; no local citations with monetary fines had been issued as of the meeting.

What Solana Center reported

Jessica Toth, executive director of the Solana Center, said the nonprofit helps translate SB 1383's donation mandate into practice for businesses and provides outreach, inspections and technical assistance. She said Solana Center classifies businesses into tiers, helps them…