Composting Food And Yard Waste Atop A Landfill
Republic Services identified a need for a food waste composting solution in San Diego County to serve surrounding communities, including Chula Vista and Carlsbad. The selected composting system had to comply with California’s SB 1383 and AB 1826 organics diversion mandates, as well as strict local air quality regulations for VOC and odor control. Due to the facility’s proximity—less than a mile—from residential neighborhoods, odor mitigation was critical. Additionally, because the composting operation would be sited on an active landfill, the system needed to be modular, portable, and capable of maintaining performance in challenging operational conditions.
PROJECT DETAILS
Ownership: Republic Services
Location: Otay Landfill, Chula Vista, CA
Pilot: 2018 (4 heaps, 3 covered)
Facility Commissioning: 2022
Product: SG MOBILE® System
Input quantity: 60,000 TPY
No. of Heaps: 32 Heaps, 24 covered, 100 ft. x 26 ft. x 12 ft. each
Treatment Time: 8 weeks in 3 Phases
Aeration: Above ground
Control Parameters: Proprietary California Compliant Control mode
Input material: Source Separated Organics (residential food waste) / Yard Waste (tree, grass, and leaves)
Equipment: Pre-Treatment (Grinders) / Front-End-Loader(s) / Electric Powered Winder / Mobile Screen
End Product: High Quality Finished Compost
SG SOLUTION: Pilot Composting System for Republic Services
In 2018, Republic Services launched a pilot-scale food waste composting project using the SG MOBILE® System with GORE® Cover and SG SOLAR® Power units. Designed to evaluate scalable, compliant, and low-emission composting solutions for San Diego County, the pilot confirmed multiple performance advantages:
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Scalable Performance: The SG MOBILE® System effectively processed feedstocks containing up to 50% food waste without compromising process control or product quality.
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Off-Grid Capability: SG SOLAR® Power units enabled a fully portable, grid-independent system that reduced carbon emissions and supported deployment on active landfill sites.
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Regulatory Compliance: The SG solution consistently met or exceeded local, county, and California state regulations for volatile organic compounds (VOCs), greenhouse gases (GHGs), and odor emissions.
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Advanced Automation: The IoT-enabled SG COMPOST CONTROL™ System allowed for remote, real-time monitoring and control via any smart device, simplifying operations and minimizing labor needs.
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Electric Equipment Integration: To further reduce the facility’s carbon footprint, SG provided an all-electric GORE® Cover winder system.
This pilot project validated SG’s ability to deliver reliable, low-emission, mobile composting infrastructure in compliance with SB 1383 and other regulatory frameworks.
PROJECT GALLERY
SG MOBILE® System on the Otay Landfill
RESULTS DELIVERED
SG MOBILE® System Proves Efficacy, Scalability, & Wins Awards
The Otay Composting Facility by Republic Services was expanded to 16 piles, commissioned in April 2022, with a second expansion of 16 more piles (for a total of 32) in late 2022. The SG MOBILE® System proved that it meets or exceeds existing environmental regulations while processing the growing volume of feedstock from the greater San Diego region.
The SG SOLAR® Power units provide enough power for the entire facility – everything from blowers and temperature probes used in the composting process to air conditioning in the facility’s office – saving costs by eliminating the need to provide additional infrastructure.
The facility accomplished each of the goals set out by Republic Services and, as a result, was recognized in the industry by being awarded the NWRA 2022 Organics Management Facility of the Year Award.
FAQ’s
1. What specific regulations and requirements outlined in SB1383, AB1826, and local air pollution regulations for VOC and odor controls did the SG MOBILE® System with GORE® Cover need to meet, and how were these addressed in the project?
The SG MOBILE® System with GORE® Cover needed to meet various regulations, including those outlined in SB1383, AB1826, and local air pollution regulations for VOC and odor controls. These regulations were addressed through the system’s design features, such as the GORE® Cover, providing effective odor control and VOC emission reduction. Additionally, the system’s proprietary California Compliant Control mode ensured compliance with local, county, and state regulations for emissions and odor.
2. How does the SG MOBILE® System with GORE® Cover maintain portability while being located on top of an active landfill, and what are the operational benefits of using off-grid solutions like SG SOLAR® Power units in composting facilities?
The SG MOBILE® System maintains portability on top of an active landfill through its modular design and utilization of off-grid solutions like SG SOLAR® Power Units. These power units provide sufficient energy for all operational needs, from composting process equipment to office facilities, eliminating the need for additional infrastructure. This not only saves costs but also reduces the overall carbon footprint of the facility, making it an environmentally sustainable solution.
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What our customers are saying…
“The Sustainable Generation® team provided us with outstanding hands-on assistance as we learned to use their system. We retrofit our existing positive air ASP system, which used a compost cap, by upgrading to the SG Mobile® System with GORE® Cover so we could address environmental and community concerns about odors and vector control, and also so we could scale up and expand our composting operation."
Justin Green, Executive Director & Founder Big Reuse
"With disposal and transportation costs increasing with no end in sight, plus an abundance of yard debris from our community, we decided to try biosolids composting at our Wastewater Treatment Plant to reduce our costs and create a Class A product. We went with the SG Mobile® System with GORE® Covers. The ease of operation and the cost savings made this a natural fit. The final product has been a huge hit with the locals who can't get enough Class A compost. We recently doubled the size of our composting operation to keep up with our increasing volumes and demand. This system is easily scalable to meet future demands."
Mike Miller, Public Works Director, City of Florence, Oregon
"We had no composting experience, so conducting a demonstration project with Sustainable Generation® greatly enhanced our understanding of food waste composting and helped us immensely with our subsequent expansion design process. During the selection process, it made a difference that SG's technology was already a proven solution for meeting VOC emission reductions for our San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District."
Jonathan Kalpakoff, VP Mid Valley Disposal
“The Sustainable Generation® team provided us with outstanding hands-on assistance as we learned to use their system. We retrofit our existing positive air ASP system, which used a compost cap, by upgrading to the SG Mobile® System with GORE® Cover so we could address environmental and community concerns about odors and vector control, and also so we could scale up and expand our composting operation."
Justin Green, Executive Director & Founder Big Reuse
"With disposal and transportation costs increasing with no end in sight, plus an abundance of yard debris from our community, we decided to try biosolids composting at our Wastewater Treatment Plant to reduce our costs and create a Class A product. We went with the SG Mobile® System with GORE® Covers. The ease of operation and the cost savings made this a natural fit. The final product has been a huge hit with the locals who can't get enough Class A compost. We recently doubled the size of our composting operation to keep up with our increasing volumes and demand. This system is easily scalable to meet future demands."
Mike Miller, Public Works Director, City of Florence, Oregon
"We had no composting experience, so conducting a demonstration project with Sustainable Generation® greatly enhanced our understanding of food waste composting and helped us immensely with our subsequent expansion design process. During the selection process, it made a difference that SG's technology was already a proven solution for meeting VOC emission reductions for our San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District."