Industry News

Conversion Technology

Divert breaks ground on Washington renewable energy facility

Divert Inc., an advanced technologies and sustainable infrastructure company based in Concord, Massachusetts, has broken ground on its Integrated Diversion and Energy Facility in Longview, Washington, which the company says is the first of its kind in the state.

The new facility will have the capacity to process 100,000 tons of wasted food per year generated in Washington and Oregon into carbon-negative renewable energy.

“Divert is at the forefront of the fight against wasted food, driving significant progress across the U.S. and now in a first for the state of Washington,” Divert CEO and co-founder Ryan Begin says. “Leveraging 16 years of leadership and knowledge in the industry, our company is eager to support businesses across Washington and Oregon in preventing waste and complying with food waste legislation.”

Washington generates more than 2.7 million tons of wasted food annually. Approximately 1 million tons of that total goes to landfill, and 47 percent is still edible food. In Oregon, 1.11 million tons of food waste was generated in 2021 with nearly 30 percent going to landfill.

“Our city is honored to welcome Divert to be a part of the community here in Southwest Washington,” Longview Mayor Mary Alice Wallis says. “I believe that Divert fits what Longview’s founder Robert A. Long envisioned 100 years ago by supporting economic growth, adding nearly 40 new jobs and attracting innovative businesses that accelerate our carbon reduction and renewable energy goals. Our community looks forward to celebrating our alliance with Divert for years to come.”

The Longview facility will enable Pacific Northwest commercial waste generators and local jurisdictions to address food waste and comply with Washington’s H.B. 1799 and Organics Management Law, as well as Oregon Metro’s Food Scraps Policy.

The facility will accept food waste from retail food customers, food producers, industrial food manufacturers, local jurisdictions, restaurants and institutional or commercial waste generators.

The 66,000-square-foot facility will provide companies with actionable data to take preventive steps to waste less and donate more edible food. Leveraging Divert’s proprietary depackaging process and anaerobic digestion, the facility will transform waste from retailers and other companies into carbon-negative renewable energy. Once fully operational in 2024, the facility will offset up to 23,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.

Divert and energy infrastructure company Enbridge Inc. are expecting to invest nearly $100 million into the project and the local economy.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Casella completes acquisition of Twin Bridges

Casella Waste Systems Inc., Rutland, Vermont, a regional solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, has acquired the collection, transfer and recycling assets of Consolidated Waste Services LLC and its affiliates, dba Twin Bridges. The purchase price was approximately $219 million and was funded through proceeds from the company’s equity offering completed June 16. 

The acquisition includes two hauling operations, one transfer station and one material recovery facility in the greater Albany, New York, market. The company says it expects to generate total annualized revenues of approximately $70 million. 

“We believe that Twin Bridges fits well with our operations and provides a solid strategic platform to grow our services in this market,” Casella Waste Systems CEO John W. Casella says in a news release announcing the purchase. “Twin Bridges was built on delivering quality service to its customers, and we are intently focused on continuing this commitment. We would like to welcome Twin Bridges’ hardworking team members to Casella, and we are excited to serve our new customers.” 

The purchase of Twin Bridges follows the firm’s acquisition of multiple companies since 2021. Earlier this year, Casella Waste Systems acquired assets from Vaughan, Canada-based GFL Environmental Inc. The company acquired Northstar Pulp & Paper Inc., headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts, last year and Willimantic Waste Paper Co. of Willimantic, Connecticut, in 2021.