Outside Forward Landfill Near Stockton, A Garden Grows On Composted Waste

The Forward Landfill just outside of Stockton is where the trash goes. Green waste such as lawn clippings used to go there, but most of that now is made into compost and some of that compost goes into a one-acre garden plot just outside the landfill.

Republic Services Kevin Basso, who manages the landfill, says the fruits and vegetables go to 120 employees and also feed the poor and homeless.

“We delivered 50 pounds of food to St. Mary’s Dining Hall last Friday," Basso says. "We’re harvesting today at the same time so we’ll see what we get out of there.”

Basso says what’s coming out are cucumbers, spinach, carrots, and much more.

Later this year, he says, discarded food will go into that compost mix. “So we’re going to take the food scraps and food waste that’s generated and get that out of the trash too.”

Or, as the saying goes: Waste not, want not.