SANCO Services received $3 million from California Climate Investments through the Organics Grants program to help fund equipment vital to the operation of a new anaerobic digestion system under construction at the Escondido Resource Recovery Transfer Station.
When completed, the station will be one of the most advanced facilities in California and will reduce 1,162 truck trips between the transfer station and the landfill per year, improving local air quality in the surrounding low‑income community. At full‑scale build out, the project will reduce greenhouse gases by 8,370 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year.
When fully operational, the SANCO Anaerobic Digestion Project (SADP) will divert 23,250 tons per year of food waste from landfills. The SADP builds upon modular anaerobic digestion technology that has been used at numerous locations throughout the world, most recently at a facility in San Luis Obispo, California. The SADP also produces beneficial products: bio‑methane and bio‑fertilizer. Yearly production of biomethane will be 146,056,841 cubic feet, which will be injected into the San Diego Gas and Electric pipeline and used as renewable transportation fuel for waste collection trucks. The project will also produce 74,400 tons per year of solid bio‑fertilizer and 6,600 tons per year of liquid bio‑fertilizer.
Through the implementation of this project, SANCO is redoubling efforts to improve surrounding neighborhoods through the execution of a formal community benefits agreement with various community organizations. This agreement includes commitments to provide ongoing communication about the project to the nearby low‑income community, free compost, and more. The project will create seven new full‑time positions with benefits, including four permanent positions and three contract positions, and an additional 15 temporary construction jobs. SANCO will prioritize hiring residents of the local community and low‑income residents and commits to employees’ receiving industry‑recognized credentials.
Steve South, President and Chief Executive Officer of SANCO, says: “We are excited about the proposed project and the positive benefits it will generate for the environment and our local community.”