Yolo County Central Landfill (YCCL) and Northern Recycling LLC announces the receipt of a $10 million grant from CalRecycle to significantly expand their state-of-the-art compost facility. The original facility, inaugurated in 2022, swiftly reached its capacity of 182,000 tons per year within it’s first year of operation. This expansion project will increase the facility’s capacity by approximately 50,000-60,000 tons per year, supporting Yolo County’s sustainability and waste management goals.
The grant, part of California’s Organics Grant Program under the California Climate Investments initiative, is projected to divert an additional ~600,000 tons of organic waste from landfills over the next decade, effectively reducing greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 114,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalents (MTCO2e) during that period.
“Yolo County continues to demonstrate a strong commitment to our sustainability goals. Innovation in our operations at our publicly-owned landfill is consistently one of the bright spots in reducing Yolo County’s overall greenhouse gas emissions, ” stated Lucas Frerichs, Chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors.
“We are grateful for the strong support from the Board of Supervisors which has led to the county’s Sustainability and Climate Action policies being embedded within our landfill operations, resulting in more recycling options for residents and an increase in the useful life of the landfill by an additional 43 years,” added Gerardo Pinedo, Yolo County’s Chief Administrative Officer.
Once complete, the expansion project will enhance Yolo County’s capacity to manage organic waste sustainably, supporting the circular economic model promoted by CalRecycle. The increased composting capacity allows for further diversion of green waste by Yolo County, regional businesses, and residents. State-mandated programs require that food waste such as coffee grounds, melon rinds, table scraps, and food-soiled paper napkins and towels be placed in compost bins. This not only diverts substantial amounts of organic waste from landfills but also produces valuable compost, a vital resource for soil health and carbon sequestration in agriculture.
Northern Recycling LLC, in partnership with YCCL, intends to expand Yolo County’s covered aerated static pile composting facility, utilizing grant funds to implement state-of-the-art composting infrastructure. This will include composting aeration systems, working pads, and equipment for screening and sorting food and green material.
“This grant reflects our ongoing commitment to creating green jobs and reducing climate pollution through innovative waste management solutions,” stated Leslie Lindbo, Director of the Yolo County Department of Community Services. “The expansion of our composting facility will not only benefit our environment but also contribute to the creation of new, permanent jobs in our community.”
The grant awarded to Northern Recycling LLC and YCCL is part of a broader initiative by CalRecycle to invest $130 million across California in organics infrastructure projects, fostering economic growth while combatting climate change.