Divert, Inc. and General Produce announced a partnership that will change food that can't be sold or donated into renewable energy and soil amendment in the Northern California region, further securing Divert's foothold in the state.
"Our partnership builds on the work we are doing across California to eliminate wasted food in the state and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the food value chain," said Andrew Johnston, VP and GM, industrials at Divert.
Divert will accept unsold, non-donatable food from General Produce's distribution center to its Integrated Diversion & Energy Facility in Turlock, California. There, it will undergo depackaging and anaerobic digestion processes, which destroy branded packaging and transform organics into carbon-negative renewable energy and nutrient-rich soil amendment. The energy and soil amendment are returned to the community to power homes and enrich local soils.
© Divert, Inc.
The company will also conduct data collection and analysis to support waste mandate compliance, produce sustainability reporting, and identify additional opportunities to reduce waste. Divert services over 1,900 locations across California for customers.
"We're keeping organic waste out of landfills, transforming what can't be donated into renewable energy, and continuing to drive meaningful change across our industry," said Brian Hamilton, General Produce's director of operations. "We know how important it is to make the most of every food item that comes through our warehouse, and this partnership allows us to do just that."
This program will help General Produce meet the compliance requirements of California's Senate Bill 1383 (SB 1383), a statewide organic waste policy that mandates diversion of organic waste from landfills. California produces nearly half of the country's vegetables and over three-quarters of its fruits and nuts, so it's critical that the nutrients and value in any unsold produce are repurposed into beneficial products, like renewable energy and soil amendment.
"Our partnership builds on the work we are doing across California to eliminate wasted food in the state and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the food value chain," said Johnston. "This collaboration not only exemplifies General Produce's commitment to sustainability but also their stewardship of their customers' products in ensuring no food – including packaged and recalled material – goes to waste."
For more information:
Brittany Miller
Divert
Brittany Miller
Tel: +1 (832) 296-6188
[email protected]
https://divertinc.com/
