Recycling Organics in San Luis Obispo County
Organic waste accounts for more than a third of California’s waste stream, and now thanks to the private and public leadership and actions of key participants, the San Luis Obispo Organics Recycling System is now operating in a sustainable way.
Output
Electricity Produced from Carbon-Neutral Biogas
High Quality Soil Amendments: Compost and Liquid
Benefits of SLO Organic Waste Recycling System
- Local organic waste is recycled locally, not going to the landfill, and is extending the life of the Cold Canyon Landfill
- System contributes to California’s reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
- The Dry Anaerobic Digestion plant generates a renewable source of electricity
- The Dry Anaerobic Digestion plant produces compost and liquid fertilizer for growers
- Production of the renewable fuel biogas and compost will further enable the ecologically sustainable and profitable recycling of biowaste as a raw material
- System contributes to California’s goal of 75 percent reduction of organics from landfill by 2025
- System contributes to SLO IWMA Regional Strategy to Meet California Solid Waste Diversion Mandates
Participants of the SLO Organics Recycling System
A coordinated and concerted effort is being made by the following public and private organizations and individuals.
Residents and businesses in San Luis Obispo County
Residents and organizations in the participating communities of San Luis Obispo County are taking daily actions to source-separate and place their uncontaminated organic waste in organic waste containers.
SLO Integrated Waste Management Authority
The San Luis Obispo County Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA) includes San Luis Obispo County and the Cities of Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Morro Bay, Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and the Community Service Districts. These jurisdictions formed a new agency in 1994 to plan and implement regional solid waste and hazardous waste programs.
Waste Connections’ Subsidiaries
In keeping with Waste Connections' Sustainability Efforts, their five area subsidiaries will deliver the organic waste they collect from their customers to the HZI Kompogas plant, and their San Luis Garbage location hosts the plant on their property.
Hitachi Zosen Inova
Watch video about HZI's San Luis Obispo Anaerobic Digestion Plant
Zurich-based Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) is a global leader in energy and material from waste solutions. They designed, financed, built, own and operate (DFBOO) the Dry Anaerobic Digestion plant in San Luis Obispo, CA. Their Kompogas SLO LLC plant was privately financed by:
- 49% Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
- 51% MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
PG&E signed a Power Purchase Agreement with HZI and are participating in California’s BioMAT Feed-in Tariff Program.
Earth Stewards
Is the exclusive distributor of the Kompogas plant’s solid and liquid digestate. Based in San Luis Obispo, CA they can be reached at 805-440-3367.
Agricultural Organizations
Not only will growers benefit from a new SLO source of solid and liquid soil amendments, they will be investing these nutrients in their future crops.
Media
Local and national organizations have been publishing articles about the SLO Organics Recycling System.
- The Tribune
- Biomass Magazine
- Foresternetwork
- Waste 360
- Waste Dive
- Waste Today Magazine