Food Donation Liability Information
About Food Donation Laws in Oregon
Under the Good Samaritan Act of 1996, anyone who donates food in good faith to a gleaning organization like Blanchet House is protected from liability associated with that product. Federal and state Good Samaritan laws were created to encourage food donations, reduce the waste of fresh food, and protect donors. Blanchet House follows strict food handling and safety procedures to ensure that the people we serve receive the highest-quality food possible. Providing our meal guests with delicious, healthy, and safe food is of utmost importance to us.
You can read the full laws here and here.
New Food Disposal Regulations in Portland
The City of Portland has initiated a food scraps requirement that is being rolled out to the Portland Metro area over the next 2 years. As of March 2023, large food waste producers will be required to compost their food scraps instead of sending them to a landfill. This will impact around 3,000 businesses – from grocery stores, restaurants and catering businesses, food and beverage manufacturers, and schools/hospitals/campuses with large cafeterias. This project will be rolled out in several phases. By 2025, businesses generating 250 lbs of food scraps or more on a weekly basis will be required to comply with the new regulations. 250 lbs fill about one large curbside rolling garbage bin.)
Read more here.
