Foodbank of Santa Barbara County prepares for new composting machine

GOLETA, Calif. – The newly dug up whole at the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County in Goleta may not look like much. 

But leaders of the organization have big plans for this open space.

“This big gaping hole that you see is going to be the home of our new composting machine," said director of marketing Laurel Alcantar of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara.

The organization’s wish to minimize environmental impact is about to come true.

CalRecycle just granted the food bank $1 million to compost organic waste.

"It’s going to really propel the food bank in our goal to become a zero waste food bank," said Alcantar.

“This is special because we are one of the very few food banks ... that have any kind of composting or food waste program like this … we really are innovators and we’re leading the charge," said chief Strategy officer Nathalie Keller of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

The foodbank received approval from the state to move forward with the project.

Now they’re waiting for the unit to arrive.

“Our grocery rescue program has recently expanded, and it will be the largest food recovery program in Santa Barbara County," said Alcantar.

“it’s going to reduce about 130 pounds of food that would be normally going to landfills by putting it through our composting units," said Keller.

According to CalRecycle, $2.5 billion meals worth of food that has the potential to be donated, ends up in landfills each year.

"Hopefully it will inspire more food banks, and other you know ... companies ... to become zero waste," said Alcantar.

The foodbank expects the machines to be fully operational in Goleta by June 2025 and in Santa Maria by September 2024.