Waste Management and City of Manhattan Beach Announce Launch of Full-Scale Food Waste Recycling Program for Residents and Businesses

Waste Management of Southern California and the City of Manhattan Beach announced today the roll out of a full-scale food waste recycling program for both residential and commercial customers aimed at converting food scraps into green, renewable energy. The program’s implementation was approved in conjunction with newly adopted rates by city council on July 7, expanding the city’s current pilot program, and food waste collection will now be offered as part of standard waste and recycling services provided by Waste Management. This is the first program of its kind to launch in a Waste Management of Southern California served city.

“We are thrilled to work with Waste Management to bring this innovative program to all of our residents and businesses alike,” said Mark Burton, mayor of the City of Manhattan Beach. “As a city, we are aiming to be as green as possible. By making food waste recycling part of a standard service offering, we can leave a smaller footprint by creating renewable energy from yesterday’s dinner.”

In the weeks ahead, all customers will receive a mailer with program information from Waste Management. Residents will receive a small kitchen container where they can place their unused food. Participating residents will then be asked to transfer their scraps to a compostable or regular trash bag and place it in their green waste cart for regular pick up.

Business establishments will sign up for the program by requesting a site visit from Waste Management to customize their food waste collection based on their business needs and a staff training program will be established.

“Making the world a cleaner, greener place is what we’re all about at Waste Management,” said Janine Hamner, municipal affairs manager at Waste Management of Southern California. “Unlike regular composting, our unique program turns food leftovers into renewable, clean energy which aligns with the City of Manhattan Beach’s sustainability goals.”

Once collected by Waste Management, food waste will then be transported to a facility in Orange where it will be processed by Waste Management’s patented Centralized Organic Recycling equipment (CORe®) system, and turned into Engineered BioSlurry (EBS)™, which is used for the creation of green, renewable energy at a waste water treatment plant.

Beginning August 3, residents with green waste containers may begin recycling food waste by placing their food waste inside a plastic bag, securely tied, then placing the bag inside their green waste container. All kitchen containers are expected to be delivered to residents by the end of August.

Residents wishing not to participate in the food waste recycling program may do so by calling Waste Management Customer Service at 310-830-7100 or sending an email to askgreen@wm.com by August 15. To learn more about Waste Management’s expanded residential and commercial food waste recycling programs, visit http://manhattanbeach.wm.com/index.jsp.