State Data
Confidence in data for this state:
HIGH
2018 data unless noted.
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Definitions
Terms used on this website and in data sets are defined & discussed here.
Tulare Lake Compost
How are Los Angeles biosolids used?
The city of Los Angeles Sanitation (LASAN) operates four water reclamation plants. Its solids are used for energy generation and on farm soils and in compost.
The separate Los Angeles County Sanitation District (LACSD) serves surrounding cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County.
“LACSD's largest WRRF and biosolids producer is the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant in Carson. Three other LACSD wastewater plants produce biosolids: Lancaster Water Reclamation Plant (WRP), Palmdale WRP, and Valencia WRP.
“All biosolids leaving LACSD facilities are Class B. Some are processed further at LACSD-owned or -contracted facilities (Class A EQ composting), Class B land application, or mine reclamation/landfilling. LACSD is the partial owner of Inland Empire Regional Composting Authority - through a joint powers agreement with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA). The facility manages biosolids from several regional producers, including LACSD and IEUA. LACSD owns and operates Tulare Lake Compost - a composting facility in Kettleman City, California. The facility is co-located with Tulare Lake Farms - an LACSD owned farm that receives compost from the compost facility.
–M. Hutton, PE, Technical Services, LACSD
Central Valley composting Photo courtesy of Synagro
State Statistics Dashboard
CA Addresses Climate Change by Reducing Landfilling of Organic Waste
“California's SB 1383 establishes targets of a 50 percent reduction in statewide organic waste disposal by 2020 and 75 percent reduction by 2025. LACSD is a special district and our biosolids program will not be directly responsible for diversion targets. However, municipalities sending wastewater to LACSD facilities will be responsible. They may aim to procure compost in support of their SB 1383 goals. The law may likely impact the commercial composting market throughout California, by expanding the market and increasing food waste composting. In addition, the production of renewable natural gas at LACSD wastewater facilities may be counted by municipalities toward diversion goals in the future. That would likely require LACSD to meet certain biosolids diversion targets. The law is new and its eventual impacts are not entirely known. However, LACSD expects it will influence biosolids management into the future.”
–M. Hutton, PE, Technical Services, LACSD
State Summary
● With the largest state economy in the U.S., California generates more wastewater solids than any other state. What happens in California sets precedents, and resource recovery is a focus of many California water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), encouraged by state agencies and wastewater organizations.
● Biosolids recycling to soil has been the dominant mode for biosolids management in the Golden State for decades, with many of the largest cities relying on land application and composting. Since the mid-2010s, including in 2018, state policy is driving even greater reliance on recycling biosolids.
● California leads the nation in climate change policy and regulation, and biosolids play a significant role. Recycling biosolids to soils provides the best net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions of any solids management option, and new policies are restricting landfilling and incineration of wastewater solids.
● Alternative daily cover (ADC) was historically considered a beneficial use and was a significant outlet for biosolids during winter months in the San Francisco Bay area and for several large municipalities in close proximity to landfills. However, under the new climate change laws, ADC is no longer considered beneficial, and landfilling in general is being phased out as legislation passed in 2016 requires a 75% diversion of organic waste, including biosolids, from landfills by 2025.
● California WRRFs have also been leaders in energy resource recovery. WRRF’s have long utilized anaerobic digestion for sewage sludge treatment and the biogas produced to provide power and heat for their operations. As the organic waste diversion mandates are implemented, there will be an increase in WRRFs receiving that waste for co-digestion. This will result in significantly more renewable energy production as well as biosolids.
● State policies are intended to increase markets for biosolids and beneficial use of biogas as low-carbon transportation fuel or through pipeline injection, export of electricity, or on-site power and heat production.
● Biosolids fit nicely into California’s new healthy soils initiative, providing organic matter and renewable nutrients.