Sen. Blakespear Presents $1M Check to Solana Center for Environmental Innovation

PHOTO: Sen. Blakespear presented a check to Jessica Toth, Executive Director of Solana Center for Environmental Innovation (holding the right side of the check), at Coastal Roots Farm composting facility, joined by members of the center’s board and volunteers.   

ENCINITAS, Calif. – Sen. Catherine S. Blakespear, D-Encinitas, on Tuesday presented Solana Center for Environmental Innovation a $1 million check to use for expanding waste diversion programs throughout the region. Sen. Blakespear secured the funding from the 2026-27 state budget. 

“I have long known of the great work done by Solana Center for Environmental Innovation, and I am glad I was able to secure state funding to help it expand its waste diversion programs. The center has been a leader in developing innovative solutions to address climate change, improve sustainability practices and move California to a circular economy.”

Senator Catherine S. Blakespear

“Solana Center is thrilled to be able to pursue innovative programming that would not be possible without this funding. We will help California build a circular economy focused on nurturing depleted resources, promoting reuse, and eliminating single-use, all toward the vision of making landfills obsolete. Solana Center will demonstrate how to make what’s possible today, practical tomorrow.”

Jessica Toth, Executive Director, Solana Center for Environmental Innovation 

WHY IT MATTERS

The $1 million in state funding will support innovative waste diversion programs and help Solana Center develop models that can be used throughout the San Diego region and beyond to significantly reduce garbage going to landfills. 

BACKGROUND

In 2014, Solana Center for Environmental Innovation set up a pilot onsite composting operation at Coastal Roots Farm in Encinitas to serve as a sustainable model for other agricultural sites. The initial operation used inedible food scraps from the farm and a neighboring restaurant, as well as manure and tree trimmings to create compost. 

The finished compost was applied to the farm’s soil that had been depleted of nutrients, from years without amendment. The result is compost that is five times richer in nutrients than the soil amendment previously trucked in from 25 miles away. 

This is an example of a self-sustaining composting program that nourishes soil and reduces greenhouse gases, while keeping organic waste out of landfills. Decentralized local composting also offers benefits from fewer transportation miles and minimal contamination from household plastics. 

Through the Full Circle Soil Project, Solana Center will use the state funding to develop and support similar composting hubs throughout the region. The project will also work to reduce school lunch waste, divert textiles away from landfills and promote reusable products. 

Also speaking at Tuesday’s check presentation were Adam McCurdy, Director of Farm Production for Coastal Roots Farm, and farmer Ron McCord of Good Grow Organics in Vista. McCord took composting classes at Solana Center and now works with farmers, brewers, restaurants and other businesses to implement circular organic waste to food cycles.

SENATOR BLAKESPEAR’S RECORD

• Sen. Blakespear has worked to bring state funding to communities across Senate District 38 to support important local initiatives and improve the quality of life. She secured $14.5 million from the 2026-27 state budget for local programs and projects. 
• Sen. Blakespear received a Healthy Soils Hero Award at the Compost Caravan held by the Association of Compost Producers earlier this month recognizing her work to encourage composting and sustainable practices.
• Sen. Blakespear authored a Senate Concurrent Resolution in 2025 designating the first week in May as Compost Awareness Week. 
• Sen. Blakespear named Mary Matava as Senate District 38 Woman of the Year in 2025 for her decades of work advancing composting across Southern California. 
• Sen. Blakespear honored ProduceGood as Senate District 38 Nonprofit of the Year in 2024 and The Ecology Center as Nonprofit of the Year in 2025 for their contributions to regenerative agriculture, food recovery and sustainability.

Sen. Blakespear represents Senate District 38, which covers northern San Diego County and southern Orange County. To learn more about the district and Sen. Blakespear, visit her Senate website.