Gaiaca Waste Revitalization: How It Solved The Growing Cannabis Waste Problem in Monterey County The increasing amount of regulated marijuana wastes in Monterey County and in the entire State of California is becoming a real headache for cannabis business operators. With the help of professional and licensed waste management services in California like Gaiaca, this serious problem is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The increasing amount of regulated marijuana wastes in Monterey County and the entire in the State of California is becoming a real headache for cannabis business operators. It is expected that every kilo of the finished cultivated product generates around a kilo of cannabis wastes plus the manufacturing wastes. Considering the fact that cultivation has doubled following the recent legalization of adult recreational and medicinal marijuana, we can say that the volume of generated wastes piling up in production and manufacturing sites is also growing exponentially.
Although the waste materials generated in cultivating and manufacturing cannabis plants and products are mostly non-hazardous, they can’t just be thrown away or placed into a regular waste receptacle, picked up by a traditional solid waste collector, and disposed of directly into the local landfills and dumpsites. Cannabis plants, even those that have undergone extraction process, contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabinoids or medicinal mind-altering ingredients that are federally considered as a Schedule One drug. These chemicals are highly addictive and harmful to the body especially when consumed in large amount. In order to prevent abusive marijuana use and to keep children and wrong hands from having access to any part of the plant, the state implements very strict waste management regulations.
How Gaiaca Solved the Growing Cannabis Waste Problem in Monterey County Gaiaca Waste Revitalization Company is California’s first-ever state-licensed and certified waste management business that specializes in cannabis by-products management and disposal. The company lives by its aim to help cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, testing labs, dispensaries, and distributors operate at their full potential and focus more on their business without worrying about getting in compliance with the state waste management regulations. The company also aim to help minimize the impact of cannabis waste to the environment and to reduce the volume of generated wastes in the local landfills.
GAIACA conducts an initial consultation first before creating a waste management plan. This helps them assess and ensure that the plan perfectly fits the needs and requirements of their client and meets the state regulations. They also provide the operators with safely-sealed and high-grade barrels which are equipped with a track and trace monitoring system, anti-tampering seals, identification number, and waste manifests. The barrels are then collected on a weekly basis or as per agreed schedule. The collected barrels are then re-weighed and verified as soon as they arrive at the facility. They will then go through a neutralization and breakdown process using proprietary fermentation or composting method. Available solutions to the alarming cannabis waste issue in California The industry has found three main solutions to the growing cannabis waste problem in the State of California, namely: (1) building an on-site waste management facility, (2) mixing cannabis wastes with general wastes, and (3) working with a licensed waste management service providers.
The first option- building an on-site waste management facility- is highly expensive in terms of initial cost, operational cost, and space consumption. Although proven effective, only a few select large cannabis operators opt for this option. The second option -mixing cannabis wastes with general wastes- can be quite cost-effective but it can also be risky. Most small-scale operators that produce minimal marijuana wastes choose this option. Though it seems to be the most practical option, option 2 can possibly get you into trouble and can cause you to pay a costly penalty if you get caught by the authority. The safest, most effective, and the most practical option left is leaving the problem in the hands of professional and licensed waste management services in California like Gaiaca.