San Francisco Food Waste Disposal Requirements for Restaurants

San Francisco's Mandatory Composting & Waste Separation Rules

San Francisco's Department of Environment mandates that all food service establishments separate food waste, compostable serviceware, and landscape debris from trash and recyclables. Restaurants must contract with a permitted organic waste hauler (composting service) and cannot dispose of food scraps in regular garbage. The city requires 100% waste separation compliance, and violations result in notices, citations, and escalating fines. All food waste must be stored in clearly marked containers and kept separate from chemical waste, grease, and non-compostable items. This ordinance applies to all commercial food facilities, including restaurants, catering operations, and institutional kitchens.

Grease Trap Installation & California State Health Code Requirements

California Health and Safety Code Section 113675 requires food service facilities to install and maintain grease interceptors (traps) to prevent fats, oils, and greases (FOG) from entering the municipal sewer system. San Francisco adds stricter enforcement through the Public Utilities Commission, which monitors FOG discharge and can issue violations directly to restaurants. Grease traps must be sized according to flow rate, cleaned regularly (typically every 30–90 days depending on use), and maintained by licensed service providers. The SF Building and Construction Inspections Division conducts grease trap inspections as part of routine health and safety audits. Improper grease disposal can result in sewer backups, environmental contamination, and fines up to $1,000+ per violation.

How SF Rules Differ from Federal & California-Wide Standards

While the FDA Food Code and California Department of Public Health set baseline food safety standards for storage and handling, San Francisco goes beyond these by mandating organic waste diversion (composting) at the point of generation. Federal EPA regulations focus on environmental discharge and wastewater treatment; California state rules align with EPA but leave enforcement to local health departments. San Francisco's unique advantage is real-time monitoring through the Public Utilities Commission's FOG program and the Department of Environment's waste audits, which track compliance more aggressively than many counties. Federal law does not require composting; it only prohibits food waste from clogging sewers. SF's ordinance is a local environmental policy, not a federal food safety rule, but violation can jeopardize your operating permits.

Monitor compliance changes with Panko Alerts—7 days free.

Real-time food safety alerts from 25+ government sources. AI-scored by urgency. Less than one bad meal a month — $4.99/mo.