SAN DIEGO—The city of San Diego is working with businesses that dispose large amounts of food waste to recycle the material and potentially reduce their disposal costs. Businesses participating in the program could save as much as $30 a ton in disposal fees by recycling food scraps at a discount rate.
“Here is a program that benefits businesses in these tough economic times,” said Chris Gonaver, director of the city’s Environmental Services Department.
“This program also helps to extend the life of the Miramar Landfill by diverting food waste from disposal,” Gonaver said. “Food scraps are turned into rich compost that can be used by landscapers and home gardeners to increase soil nutrition and water holding capacity.”
Food waste is recycled at The Greenery composting facility, located at the Miramar Landfill.
Current participants include Sea World San Diego, PETCO Park, the San Diego Convention Center, San Diego International Airport, the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego State University, and Point Loma Nazarene University.
The city recently added its first hotel, the Hilton San Diego Bayfront.
“This program has already been both an operational and economic success,” said Michael Jueds, the hotel’s director of property operations. “During the first month of participating in the program, we exclusively diverted approximately 16 tons of food waste that would have otherwise needlessly ended up in the general landfill.”
The Greenery is the only facility in San Diego County permitted by the state to compost food waste, and one of only 12 in California currently accepting food scraps. The facility recycles yard waste, clean unpainted wood and food waste to produce high quality compost, mulch, and wood chips.
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