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At Marin Sanitary Service, our commitment to finding the highest and best use of our collected material is never ending.
In 2014, in partnership with the Central Marin Sanitation Agency, we launched the Food 2 Energy program (F2E) to convert every banana peel, stale loaf of bread, and meat trimming into a renewable energy source right here in Marin County.
Since starting the program in 2014 we’ve enrolled 196 restaurants, cafeterias, and grocery stores. To date, 6,300 tons of food scraps have been diverted from the landfill and avoided 5,533 metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere. This is equivalent to removing 14,335 cars from the road!
The program takes food waste from participating, qualified local restaurants and grocery stores and converts the material into a bio-gas through anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a process that converts organic material into a methane gas.
That methane gas is then utilized as a power source for the Central Marin Sanitation Agency and helps power the operation of their sewage treatment facility allowing them to pump water, run filters, and clean Marin’s waste water before it goes into the bay.
Another benefit of the conversion process is the avoided methane emissions at Redwood Landfill from the decomposition of organic materials and the reduction of truck trips from San Rafael to Novato.
It’s a winning combination!
Food 2 Energy is a program specifically for commercial businesses that are large food waste generators such as restaurants, assisted living facilities, grocery stores, schools, hospitals, and any other business or institutional facility that has food service. In our service areas, there are approximately 250 large food waste generators who produce nearly 15 tons of food waste per day.
When you set up service with us, an outreach coordinator will review these options with you to assess your qualifications for this program. You may end up as both a compostables customer and enrolled in our Food 2 Energy program, if that makes sense for your business.
Under California’s SB 1383 law, some businesses may be required to donate their edible food. For more information please go to zerowastemarin.org.
Curious about how anaerobic digestion works and what becomes of your food scraps? Check out this Food 2 Energy Infographic (PDF).
If you qualify to enroll in our Food 2 Energy program, a recycling coordinator will review cart options with you.
Use this handy 8.5 X 11 F2E label/poster (PDF) to remind your team what can go into your F2E carts.
Post this F2E Contamination Flyer (PDF) near your F2E cart as a reminder that twist ties, stickers, and rubber bands do not belong!
Please make sure your Food 2 Energy receptacles are clearly marked and easy to identify.
