Divert breaks ground on 65,000-square-foot food waste facility in California

Divert has broken ground on its 65,000-square-foot facility integrated diversion and energy facility in Turlock, California, which will capture and turn wasted food into carbon-negative renewable energy through anaerobic digestion.

The new facility is partly funded by a $63 million municipal green bond issued through the California Public Finance Authority

Ryan Begin, CEO and co-founder of Divert, an impact technology company, emphasized that they have been working to prevent waste through our sustainable infrastructure and advanced technologies for the past 16 years.

He added that the facility would provide a transformative opportunity to scale Divert’s proven solutions in California and further accelerate their vision for a waste-free future.

Wasted food is a major contributor to climate change and food insecurity.

Transforming waste from retailers and other companies into carbon-negative
renewable energy would prevent it from emitting harmful methane in landfills.

It will also provide companies with data analytics that will give them insights on how to waste less and donate food.

When the facility is completely operating, it will be able to process 100,000 tons of food waste yearly, which could offset up to 23,000 metric tons of CO2. The facility will produce enough renewable energy, according to Divert, to power about 3,000 houses annually.

The site is expected to be fully operational in 2024.