Republic Services Expands Compost Capacity in San Joaquin County

Republic Services has opened an expanded compost facility at Forward Landfill in San Joaquin County, California. The company announced the opening on October 12, 2026.

What changed

The expansion adds processing space and upgraded infrastructure. That raises the site's capacity to recycle food scraps and yard waste from homes and businesses in the region. According to Republic Services, the compost operation can recycle up to 147,000 tons of organic material a year, and the finished compost goes back to local farmers and residents.

The project took several years. Republic Services began planning the expansion in 2019 and received $5.1 million through CalRecycle's Organics Grant Program in 2023. The company also plans to open a larger site, the San Bernardino Sustainability Park, later this year, with an initial capacity of 300,000 tons a year.

Why it matters

California's SB 1383 aims to sharply cut the organic waste sent to landfills, and that goal depends on having enough places to process it. New and larger compost sites help close that gap, especially in regions with growing collection programs.

For food businesses, hotels, campuses and venues, the news is a reminder that processing capacity is regional. Where a large facility is close by, hauled collection can work well. Where it is far away or full, processing part of the food waste on site can reduce the volume that has to travel at all.

If you are weighing on-site processing for your own food waste, see how it works on our products page.