CRRA2019

Sustainability Coordinator

Jack Johnson is the Edible Food Recovery Manager for the County of San Mateo.  He has 17 years experience working on issues of sustainability and developing programs for waste diversion in California and Colorado.

I will be describing the efforts I have undertaken in the past year to implement a robust response to SB 1383 in San Mateo County.  We have worked with our jurisdictions to create a single county led program instead of the 21 possible programs the legislation could have required, worked with our local food bank to expand their grocery rescue program and provided a refrigerated truck and driver, conducted a baseline study of edible food and the existing capacity and infrastructure needs in the county to increase diversion.  We are developing a comprehensive education and outreach program for schoolchildren and adults, working to reduce the stigma associated with eating recovered food, and trying to find new markets and programs to further reduce edible food waste.

We will have specific suggestions about how other jurisdictions can start their own program and sample contracts and other templates for jurisdictions to use.

Director of Special Projects

After graduating from the University of California at Santa Cruz, Susan Takalo has worked in social services for the past 42 years with a focus on hunger and underserved communities, serving in a variety of capacities.  Presently, she manages a network of over 300 agencies and direct service programs. She participates in a range of community-based committees such as the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Advisory Committee and Daly City ACCESS.  She is founding co-chair of Thrive’s Emergency Preparedness Taskforce.  She is an active member of the Pride Initiative, a project of San Mateo County Office of Diversity and Equity.

Susan will speak about the necessary changes food banks, agencies, distribution sites, and direct service programs will have to make to accept the estimated 33,000,000 lbs of additional excess food anticipated to come into the system due to SB 1383.  There will be changes to financial, logistical, operational,  and physical plants to address this excess and increase the capacity and infrastructure required.  

Executive Director

Joe La Mariana is Executive Director of the South Bayside Waste Management Authority Joint Powers Authority (aka RethinkWaste). RethinkWaste is a 12 member, $130M per year solid waste JPA that’s based on the San Francisco Peninsula and is recognized as an industry leader in programs and facility operations. RethinkWaste owns a 16-acre solid waste facility that’s known as the Shoreway Environmental Center, This site includes a transfer station and a MRF. This site is the base for almost 400 Recology and South Bay Recycling employees and it handles almost 500,000 tons of waste, recycling and organic material every year.

Joe LaMariana will present on the legislation each jurisdiction will have to adopt to be in compliance with 1383, the changes that will be required of waste haulers, and the public outreach and education necessary to inform the public.

Director of Government Affairs

Andrew Cheyne oversees CAFB’s state and federal policy agenda to address hunger and poverty, including legislative, budgetary and administrative initiatives. He works to build the capacity of food banks, agencies, and clients to lead advocacy efforts. Achievements include first-ever General Fund support for CalFood enabling food banks to purchase California grown foods, enhancing the Farm to Food Bank Tax Credit and expanding the state Good Samaritan Food Donation liability protections. Andrew works across a broad portfolio from public benefits to food waste and other issues that affect food security. He emphasizes multi-sector collaborations, including the Food Waste Roundtable.

Andrew Cheyne will present on the efforts of the state wide system of food banks to implement 1383 and assist their members on the necessary capacity and infrastructure changes.

Sustainability Coordinator

Jack Johnson is the Edible Food Recovery Manager for the County of San Mateo.  He has 17 years experience working on issues of sustainability and developing programs for waste diversion in California and Colorado.