Waste Management opens organics facility in Calif.

Waste Management of Alameda County has opened an $11 million organics processing and transfer facility in San Leandro, Calif., that is certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold.

The nearly 35,000-sq.-ft. building is designed to process and transfer 150,000 tons of yard trimmings and food scraps annually, Waste Management said in a press release.

The building’s green features includes: a biofilter that eliminates odor; high-speed rollup doors to contain odor and prevent bird entry; day lighting through translucent panels and solar tubes; and mechanically stabilized embankment walls made from 100 percent recycled aggregate. In constructing the building, 95 percent of the waste was recycled, 40 percent of the materials were sourced locally and 20 percent came from recycled sources. It is the first industrial building designed to the gold standard in San Leandro. LEED is a green building certification program developed by the U.S. Green Building Council.
“This economic and environmental investment reflects our dedication to helping Alameda County and the Bay Area reach higher diversion goals,” said Barry Skolnick, area vice president for Waste Management.

Residential organics are sent to the company’s composting facility in Marin County. Excess materials are sent to third-party composters.