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New Labeling System for All State Cannabis Cultivation Licenses
In an effort to continue to provide open and meaningful communication to you, CalCannabis has an important update that will affect all state cultivation licenses.
10/31/2019 3:12:22 PM
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Monterey County Community Health Center Board
Monterey County Community Health Center Board will meet Tuesday, December 10, 2019 from 3:30 to 5 pm at Laurel Internal Medicine, 1441 Constitution Blvd, Building 151 Suite 16, Salinas.
12/4/2019 4:59:46 PM
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Toy Safety Tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics
Giving gifts to children is a favorite part of winter holidays, whether they're wrapped under a tree or exchanged with the lighting of a candle. When choosing a toy for a child, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the toy be appropriate for the child's age and stage of development.
12/3/2019 12:02:20 PM
Food Reuse and Waste laws
Published on January 11, 2018. Last modified on September 24, 2019
Food Scraps Management
75% Source Reduction
Californians throw away nearly 6 million tons of food scraps or food waste each year. This represents about 18 percent of all the material that goes to landfills. In order for California to reach its goal of 75% source reduction, recycling and composting, food waste must be addressed.
Mandatory Commercial Organics Recycling
Everyone has a role in saving resources and wasting less food. Creative food rescue projects like the UglyFruitAndVeg Campaign work to save healthy fruits and vegetables from becoming waste. Rather than throwing away excess food, find ways to manage it more thoughtfully, such as working with groups to ensure that it goes to disadvantaged people, and composting for soil restoration. To further educate the public about food waste, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Ad Council have initiated a food waste reduction campaign known as Savethefood.com. Their web site offers a complete media kit with posters, videos, social media postings, and more.
Tips for large scale reduction management
Hotels & Restaurants
Hotels and restaurants can save money and reduce waste by donating edible food to disadvantaged communities to help reduce hunger; and by including waste prevention and recycling programs. Proper purchasing, handling, and careful food preparation and storage are fundamental to these efforts.
Schools
To reduce the amount of food scraps discarded by campuses, many institutions have implemented environmental programs that address sustainable practices.
Stadiums/Special Events
Collecting food scraps at stadiums, theme parks, fairs, festivals, and catered events creates unique challenges. Coordination between event staff, food preparation staff, consumers, waste haulers, and compost facilities is important to successful food scrap collection and composting efforts.
Health Care Industry
To reduce the amount of food scraps disposed by the health care industry, food waste recycling programs are being developed in many health care organizations. There are several ways to avoid wasting food: for example, prepare only what is needed, donate excess food, or implement composting programs.
Grocery Stores
Grocers can reduce waste by donating edible food to disadvantaged communities and by instituting best management practices for waste prevention.
Additional Information
How does the law protect businesses from liability?
The "Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act" (Public Law 104-210) makes it easier for businesses to donate to food rescue and food bank programs. It protects donors from liability when donating to nonprofit organizations and protects donors from civil and criminal liability should the product donated in good faith cause harm to the needy recipient.
Tax benefits for donating food
Food donors are advised to consult with their tax adviser for information on tax deductions. For information on tax credit in California, please see the Chapter 503, Statutes of 2011 (Fuentes, AB 152), regarding donations to food banks, voluntary contributions, and income tax credits.
Food Donation
The US EPA’s Food Recovery Hierarchy ranks food donations to feed hungry people as a top priority to help reduce wasted food. The top levels of the hierarchy are the best ways to prevent waste and bring most benefits for the environment.
Safe Surplus Food Donation Toolkit
This toolkit was created for use and distribution by Environmental Health Departments across California to educate food facilities about safe surplus food donation, including information on liability protections, state mandates, and safe surplus food donation practices. Download the toolkit here!
Food Donations in your community
- Food donors include food processors and manufacturers, grocers, wholesalers, farmers, and organized community food drives.
- Perishable and prepared foods are typically collected from restaurants, caterers, corporate dining rooms, and hotels for prompt distribution to hungry people in their communities.
- Donated food includes edible food from events, products affected by labeling regulations or manufacturing glitches, expired coupons, or code-dated products.
- Donating surplus food inventory to food rescue or food banks reduces warehouse storage and disposal costs.