SERRF Transition

The Future of SERRF

For 35 years, the Southeast Resource Recovery Facility (SERRF) served Long Beach by converting waste into energy. The facility ceased operations in early 2024 and was fully decommissioned by November 2024.

What Comes Next

The City is preparing to remove the above-ground structures and make the SERRF site available for a future waste-related facility. As part of this process, the City is evaluating options for how the site could best support Long Beach’s long-term solid waste needs. These options include several types of organic waste processing technologies that could help the City meet regulatory requirements, such as California’s Senate Bill (SB) 1383, support sustainability goals, and improve local waste management services.

Why This Matters for Long Beach

Transition planning for the SERRF site is an important step for the community and the environment. A future facility could provide Long Beach with a local option to manage organic materials, reduce hauling distances and costs, lower emissions, and potentially generate renewable products or energy. It may also create revenue opportunities through land use and the development of modern, sustainable waste-processing infrastructure.

Exploring Organic Waste Processing Technologies

Anaerobic digestion and other organics-processing technologies are part of the City’s evaluation. These systems naturally break down organic materials such as food scraps and yard trimmings and can produce valuable outputs like renewable gas and compostable material. The City is assessing which technology, or combination of technologies, best suits Long Beach’s waste stream, operational needs, and long-term sustainability goals.

Stay Updated

The City is committed to keeping the community informed throughout the evaluation and planning process. The City will share updates as the Request for Proposals (RFP) process advances and as decisions about the future use of the SERRF site are made.