Phoenix – October 12, 2026 -- Republic Services has opened an expanded compost facility at Forward Landfill in San Joaquin County, Calif., with capacity to recycle up to 147,000 tons of food scraps and yard waste per year.
The upgraded site adds processing space and infrastructure, and uses technology to speed up composting and keep pace with higher customer demand. It serves thousands of homes and businesses across Northern California. Finished compost is returned to farmers and residents.
CalRecycle grant of $5.1 million funded the expansion
Republic Services began planning the expansion in 2019. In 2023, the company received $5.1 million through CalRecycle's Organics Grant Program, which supported construction, equipment and administrative costs. The program is designed to promote industry investment in clean technologies and cut greenhouse gas emissions in the state.
San Joaquin County Supervisor Mario Gardea described the investment as $5 million toward a stronger local composting capacity. CalRecycle Director Zoe Heller said the site returns finished compost to the community to support soil health, drought resilience and local food production.
Organics make up 48% of California landfill waste
Organic material accounts for 48% of what people dispose of in California landfills, including 2.5 billion meals worth of unspoiled food a year. Organic matter that breaks down in landfills generates methane emissions.
Republic Services runs 17 organics facilities in California
The company's California network includes green waste processing facilities, compost sites and commercial food waste operations. It processed 884,000 tons of food and yard waste in 2025.
Later this year, Republic Services will open the San Bernadino Sustainability Park in San Bernardino County, Calif. The site, described as one of the nation's largest organics facilities, will start with capacity to recycle 300,000 tons of food and green waste per year, with room to double.
Forward Landfill adds to a multi-asset site
Forward Landfill has served California's Central Valley for nearly eight decades. The site also hosts a renewable energy plant, and a renewable natural gas facility is under development.