Preparing for California's Edible Food Recovery Mandate

Findings from the Los Angeles Food Recovery Study

by Alina I. Palimaru, Joslyn Fleming, Jay Balagna, Marcy Agmon, Marc Robbins, Sarah B. Hunter

Under a new state law, by 2025 California must reduce organic waste by 75 percent and recover 20 percent edible food that would otherwise be landfilled. RAND researchers reviewed the literature and government documents, and interviewed stakeholders to assess the preparedness for the new mandate in Los Angeles County. They suggest ways in which the mandate could be turned into an opportunity for innovation and capacity-building.

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Funding for this research was provided by gifts from RAND supporters and income from operations. This research was conducted in the Community Health and Environmental Policy Program within RAND Social and Economic Well-Being.

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