Residential Services
Starting the week of June 20th, EDCO will begin exchanging carts, dumpsters, and/or roll-off boxes used to collect solid waste, recyclable materials, and organic waste.
Coming on July 1, 2022, EDCO’s New Organics Recycling Program will Collect Food Scraps and Landscape Waste Mixed Together in a Green Organics Container
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Place recyclable organics directly into your designated green cart. Do not use any kind of plastic bags (including certified compostable or biodegradable bags) for any type of green waste, food waste, or other organics collection or disposal, as they contaminate the Anaerobic Digester! All organic material must be placed loosely inside the green cart for collection. Paper bags are acceptable.
Please do not place any of the following materials in your green cart:
- No plastic bags.
- No trash or hazardous waste.
- No animal waste.
- No dirt, rocks, asphalt, concrete, sand, etc.
- No treated or lead-based painted wood or lumber.
Organic Waste
Organic waste is a renewable natural resource, and 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. EDCO has constructed the first state-of-the-art, advanced technology Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Facility in San Diego County, capable of producing renewable natural gas that will serve the region’s needs.
Anaerobic digestion is an efficient and environmentally sustainable technology that can significantly contribute to organic waste management in California. Capturing and reducing the amount of methane released into the atmosphere is critical in ensuring a safe and healthy environment for ourselves and future generations.
EDCO’s Anaerobic Digestion Facility
Since 1967, family-owned and operated EDCO has had a long-standing commitment to reducing environmental impacts through innovation. EDCO’s state-of-the-art AD Facility began serving customers in early 2021, assisting your community to fully comply with State Mandates and keep us On the Road to Zero Waste.
AD is the natural process in which microorganisms break down organic materials such as food waste, green waste, fats, oils, and greases. Anaerobic digestion happens in closed spaces with no oxygen and converts organic material into Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) and fertilizer.
Recycling organics is easy and convenient with EDCO’s commingled organics recycling program. EDCO has expanded the source-separated green waste collection to include recycling food waste. The service allows customers to place food scraps in the same container as green waste. EDCO’s AD Facility is a foundation for your community to achieve State mandates, including AB 1826, AB 1594, and SB 1383, which are directly related to organics recycling in the State of California.
EDCO’s Recycling Videos
To learn more about EDCO’s new AD Facility and Organics Recycling Program and how they will significantly impact the future of organic waste, please watch our informative videos.
Why Recycle Food Waste?
Organic waste accounts for over 40% of California’s waste stream material. Organic material cannot break down when buried in a landfill, as it would in nature or a compost pile, because it decomposes without oxygen, releasing methane gas into the atmosphere. Organic material (food scraps and yard waste) will be recycled when placed in the green carts. It will be transported to EDCO’s AD Facility, where it will be converted into renewable natural gas and fertilizer.
What Will Go in the Green Cart?
Below are just a few examples of what will be able to be placed in your green organics cart.
Food Scraps
Fruit, vegetables, meat, bones, dairy, eggshells, prepared food
Food-Soiled Paper
Napkins, tea bags, paper plates, coffee filters
Yard Waste
Plants, leaves, branches, grass
What Can You do Now?
In the United States alone, a shocking 40% of food is uneaten, wasted, and discarded. We, as consumers are the largest producers of food waste, believe it or not, exceeding grocery stores and restaurants combined! So, the smallest changes add up and make a huge difference. San Diego Food System Alliance is leading an initiative across San Diego County to reduce food waste and increase food donations to people. By visiting their website, at sdfsa.org/savethefoodsd/, residents can find information on food recovery throughout the county, food donation guides, and resources.
Where Does it Go?
Ever wonder what belongs in the recycling, green waste and trash bin or if an item requires special handling?
Request a Kitchen Caddie
Residents can request a Kitchen Caddie for convenient transfer of food scraps from the kitchen to the organics cart or compost pile.
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