This Final Report is written to describe the operations and results of a small-scale dry fermentation anaerobic digestion pilot project that was developed for Blue Line Transfer, Inc. in South San Francisco. The pilot project’s intent was to demonstrate the ability of a modular anaerobic digestion system that harvests biogas from organic solid waste to fuel a small fleet of waste collection vehicles. Blue Line Transfer and its sister company, South San Francisco Scavenger Company, Inc., are waste processing and collection companies, respectively. Therefore, these companies are in an advantageous position for testing the feasibility of such a waste-to-fuel anaerobic digestion system. The system at Blue Line Transfer consists of eight digestion bays, a gas purification and compression system, a compressed natural gas vehicle fueling station, and two in-vessel composting units for composting the digestate end product.
The goal of this pilot project would be to establish the economic and environmental justifications for similar projects to be replicated throughout the state. Should similar waste-based anaerobic digestion facilities come online and prove successful, California will make significant progress on its climate, solid waste, and energy independence goals.
The details provided in this final report include descriptions of the anaerobic digestion process, summary data regarding incoming feedstock, information regarding the digestate end product, analyses of the biogas production, and assessments of the project benefits.