The process saves time, money and environmental impacts for local businesses like his, North Bay Restaurant Service, as well as bigger players such as Lagunitas Brewing Co., Amy’s Kitchen and Cowgirl Creamery.

“It’s a great big help because instead of having a 70-mile trip, we now have a 7-mile trip,” said Ryan Neal, sales manager of the Santa Rosa-based hauler.

Since Santa Rosa began operating its new $3 million high-strength waste receiving station in August, the project is proving to be an environmental success story, said Adam Ross, an engineer at consulting firm Brown and Caldwell, which helped design the facility.

“It’s already achieving all of the project goals that we set out for it,” Ross said.