Currently organic material (yard waste, food waste, and food soiled paper) is handled at the Anaerobic Composting Facility.  This facility handles 52,000 tons of green waste, food waste, and other organic waste each year through a combination of anaerobic digestion and aerobic composting operation. 

The first phase (20 to 22 weeks) is anaerobic composting (without oxygen) which degrades non‐woody organic wastes and creates methane, which is collected for the on‐site electric generation power plant.  The second phase is aerobic composting (with oxygen) that degrades the remaining organic material aerobically (at least 2 weeks).  After the completion of the aerobic composting phase, the material is screened to remove non‐compostable fraction and oversized material.

The final compost is tested according TMECC (Test Methods for the Examination of Composting and Compost) by a certified laboratory according to US Composting Council’s STA program.  Compost quality is evaluated through an independent laboratory analysis for parameters such as carbon‐to‐nitrogen (C:N) ratio, organic matter content, salinity total nitrogen, total phosphorus, stability, phytotoxicity, pH, maturity, boron, chloride, sodium, particle sizes, heavy metal concentration, and pathogen concentrations  and other parameters before it is provided to customers. 

For additional information about testing parameters see link: 
https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8514.pdf   

Compost that can be sold or otherwise provided to customers must meet California standard for every pile and to attain a temperature of 131 degree Fahrenheit (55 degree Celsius) or higher, and maintain that temperature for at least 3 days.    

Composting is a natural biological degradation process that is controlled and accelerated at a composting facility.  Composting is the transformation of biologically decomposable material through a controlled process of biological oxidation that results in the release of carbon dioxide, water, and minerals, and in the production of stabilized organic matter (compost or humus) that is biologically active. 

“The compost has undergone mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures, which significantly reduces the viability of pathogens and weed seeds (in accordance with EPA 40 CFR 503 standards) and stabilizes the carbon such that it is beneficial to plant growth.  Compost is typically used as a soil amendment,  but may also contribute to plant nutrients.  Finished compost is typically screened to reduce its particle size, to improve soil incorporation.”  Taken from the US Composting Council website 
(https://www.compostingcouncil.org/page/CompostDefinition) 

Since the thermophilic composting (131 degree Fahrenheit (55 degree Celsius)) reduces pathogens, which is a fundamental requirement for feedstock processing and destroys most weed seeds as required by Tile 14 of California Code of Regulations, Chapter 3.1