Zero Waste Energy (ZWE) and Blue Line Transfer Awarded 2015 Innovator of the Year

National Waste & Recycling Association Recognizes Blue Line Biogenic CNG Facility

Lafayette, California – September 15, 2015 – Zero Waste Energy and Blue Line Transfer, Inc. were announced as the recipient of the National Waste & Recycling Association’s 2015 Recycling Equipment Innovator of the Year  for its Blue Line Biogenic CNG Facility atWaste360 Recycling Summit. The Award recognizes recycling equipment designers and manufacturers that successfully challenge and advance recycling sector operations through innovation in design and manufacturing that increases the effectiveness or efficiency of recycling equipment and operations.

The Blue Line Biogenic CNG facility is the country’s first dry anaerobic digestion (AD) facility that converts biomethane into compressed natural gas (CNG) to fuel the collection vehicles that collected the organic material. This unique closed-loop system transforms 11,200 tons of food and green waste per year into biogenic compressed natural gas (CNG), produces heat to run the operations, and provides high-quality compost. The facility can produce up to 120,000 diesel gallon equivalent (DGE) per year of carbon negative biogenic CNG—enough to fuel up to  18 of South San Francisco Scavenger’s (sister company to Blue Line) collection vehicles. Each vehicle collects enough organic waste during just one route to fuel it for an entire day, creating a true closed-loop system and the first project of its kind in the United States. Based on current projections of the amount of fuel the dry-AD Facility produces for its CNG fleet, SSF Scavengers plans to achieve a 43% reduction in emissions from its entire fleet of vehicles.

“This facility pioneers the future of organic waste processing by converting a former waste product into a fuel source for trucks while also producing quality compost. This system presents an ideal environmental model for the future of waste processing, proving that it is economically possible by producing renewable CNG that exceeds anticipated levels”, said Eric Herbert, CEO of Zero Waste Energy, project developer and technology provider for the facility.

“The Blue Line Biogenic CNG Facility has given the ability to reduce the organics going into the landfill by converting that same waste into CNG fuel that powers our collection routes…a true closed loop system. It’s good for us, the cities we serve, and California”, said Doug Button, President of South San Francisco Scavenger, Co., Inc. “We are proud to be leaders in our industry and to be recognized with this honor.”

Zero Waste Energy, LLC is an industry leading development company that designs, builds and operates integrated solid waste processing facilities throughout the Americas and Asia. ZWE’s principal goal is to optimize waste diversion and the generation of renewable energy in an efficient and environmentally sound manner. With its extensive expertise and advanced technologies, the company offers innovative mixed solid waste processing and patented AD systems for conversion of organic waste into renewable energy and clean compost. As a solutions provider, ZWE looks at the application of technologies that are executable given the technical, economic and environmental considerations of the facility and operator. ZWE brings real, executable solutions to developers and operators throughout the world.

South San Francisco Scavenger Company (SSFSC) and Blue Line Transfer, Inc. are family-owned companies that have been providing solid waste and recycling services to local communities since 1914. SSFSC provides a full range of pre- and post-collection services to assure efficient, responsive, and hands-on waste management in the face of rapidly changing regulatory and environmental challenges. Since its inception it has been on the cutting-edge of the latest advances in waste management technology and service.

The National Waste & Recycling Association is the trade association representing private-sector U.S. waste and recycling companies, as well as the manufacturers and service providers that do business with those companies. It provides leadership, advocacy, research, education and safety expertise to promote the North American waste and recycling industries, to serve as their voice and to create a climate where members prosper and provide safe, economically sustainable and environmentally sound services.