Republic Services Expands California Compost Facility

Republic Services has opened an expanded compost facility at Forward Landfill in San Joaquin County, California, increasing its capacity to recycle food scraps and yard waste from homes and businesses. The site can process up to 147,000 tons of material annually and serves thousands of homes and businesses across Northern California. The expansion adds processing space and upgraded infrastructure for compost used by farmers, landscapers and community projects. It is part of the company’s California network of 17 organics facilities.

More Capacity for Organics

Forward Landfill has provided environmental services in California’s Central Valley for nearly eight decades. Its operations now include a renewable energy plant, a renewable natural gas facility under development, and the expanded compost site.

The facility uses technology intended to speed the composting process while turning yard and food waste into material returned to farmers and residents.

Chris Seney, director of Sustainability Innovation in Organics at Republic Services, said:

“Each truckload of food and yard waste that arrives at Forward Landfill is transformed into nutrient-rich compost that supports local farmers, landscapers and even community projects. This facility represents composting on a whole different scale, with the technology and capacity to process thousands of tons of material per year.”

Keeping Waste Out of Landfills

According to CalRecycle, 48% of material disposed of in California landfills is organic waste, including 2.5 billion meals worth of unspoiled food each year. Organic materials can create methane emissions as they break down in landfills.

Republic Services processed 884,000 tons of food and yard waste through its California organics operations in 2025. Later this year, the company plans to open the San Bernardino Sustainability Park in San Bernardino County, with capacity to recycle 300,000 tons of food and green waste per year initially and room to double that capacity.

Republic Services state and local officials cut ribbon on Forward Landfill s-expanded compost.

Grant Supports Site Expansion

Republic Services began planning the Forward Landfill compost expansion in 2019. In 2023, the project received $5.1 million from CalRecycle’s Organics Grant Program for construction, equipment, and administrative costs.

CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller said:

“The composting facility upgrade at Republic Services' Forward Landfill is a powerful example of how local partnerships help California cut pollution, expand organics recycling infrastructure and support a climate-safe future with technology that puts communities first. A local circular economy in action, this site takes in food and green waste from homes and businesses and returns finished compost back to the community to support soil health, drought resilience and local food production.”

Local Services and Compost

The facility recycles yard and food waste into compost that is returned to farmers and residents.

San Joaquin County Supervisor Mario Gardea said:

“This $5 million investment is an important step forward for San Joaquin County. By expanding our composting capacity, we're strengthening essential services, supporting local businesses, and investing in a cleaner, more sustainable future for the communities we serve.”