The Monterey (California) Regional Waste Management District and San Jose-based Zero Waste Energy LLC have opened an anaerobic digestion operation in Marina, Calif.

It is the first U.S. facility to use the SmartFerm dry anaerobic digestion system, according to company information. The project will covert 5,000 tons per year of organic waste into electricity and compost. That can create 100 kilowatt of electricity or up to 3,200 BTUS of biogas.

The operation features four anaerobic digesters.