Escondido anaerobic digestion facility opened in San Diego County

February 2, 2021. The first anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in San Diego County has opened in Escondido and as of February 1 was able to receive residential green waste.

On November 28, 2018, the city’s Recycling and Waste Reduction Division first presented the Organics Recycling Program information to the Escondido City Council.

In addition to outlining state mandates requiring organics recycling, it included plans from the City’s franchised waste hauler, Escondido Disposal (EDI), to build an AD facility in Escondido. While construction is not complete, the two green tubes are prepared to receive residential green waste beginning February 1, 2021.

Organic waste is a renewable natural resource. It mainly comes from yard and kitchen waste from homes, and food waste and scraps from industrial and commercial operations.

Mandatory recycling of organic waste is the next step to achieving California’s Zero Waste goals. EDI is constructing the first state-of-the-art, advanced technology AD facility in San Diego County, capable of producing renewable natural gas that will serve the needs of the region.

Anaerobic digestion is an efficient and environmentally sustainable technology that can make a significant contribution to the management of organic waste in California.