Sustainability Initiatives

Sustainability at Otay Landfill

The Otay Landfill is becoming a comprehensive sustainability center that will provide safe, reliable, and environmentally responsible recycling and composting solutions for the community. Republic’s investment in South County will exceed $50 million at the Otay Landfill to support sustainable initiatives for our future.

The compost team unwraps a GORTEX™ cover over the material to start phase 1 of the compost process.

The compost team unwraps a GORTEX™ cover over the material to start phase 1 of the compost process.

Operations supervisor is charging the new EV trucks at the end of the day.

Operations supervisor is charging the new EV trucks at the end of the day.

Landfill operator is monitoring the construction and demolition center.

Landfill operator is monitoring the construction and demolition center.

An aerial view of the composting facility in action.

An aerial view of the composting facility in action.

An organics truck drops off a load of feedstock collected from residential homes.

An organics truck drops off a load of feedstock collected from residential homes.

A water truck is spraying the landfill roads to keep dust and air pollution at bay.

A water truck is spraying the landfill roads to keep dust and air pollution at bay.

Sustainability in Action™

  • Organics – Residential Customers (Yard/food waste) Republic Services manages the first state-of-the-art fully solar-powered compost facility, processing 200 tons of material, and will increase to 400 tons.

     

    Commercial Customers (Food waste only)
    Our de-packaging and separation system (THOR) for source-separated organics significantly reduces contamination, ensuring that food waste is properly recycled. This equipment can process 20 tons of organic waste per hour. The system will be operational Fall 2024.

  • Construction & Demolition Center – A center to process waste from construction, renovation, repair, and demolition of houses, large building structures, roads, bridges, and piers. This facility breaks down wood, steel, concrete, gypsum, masonry, metal, and asphalt to be reused.

  • Recycling Center – A future recycling center will be built to sort and separate plastics, glass, paper, aluminum cans, cardboard, and other materials to be recycled and repurposed into other products. Permit and Design Phase.

  • Transfer Station – Prior to closure of the Otay Landfill, this station will be developed for waste to be consolidated, compacted, and loaded into long-haul trailers for more sustainable transportation to Sycamore Landfill which will serve as the primary landfill for the region. Permit and Design Phase

  • Electric Trucks – Chula Vista hauling yard will soon start receiving electronic trucks (EVs) for residential routes in the community. EVs help reduce noise and improve air quality. Our team intends to fully replace all diesel and CNG trucks with EVs in the future.

  • Awards – National Waste & Recycling Association’s 2022 Organics Management Facility of the Year. 2022 California Resource Recovery Association’s Dave Hardy Leadership in Organics Award.