Green Bank investment helps strengthen Connecticut’s organic waste infrastructure, increase resource recovery, and advance the circular economy
HARTFORD, Conn. (August 27, 2026) – The Connecticut Green Bank announced today that it has closed financing of $5.05 million in support of Circular Services’ continued development of its Southington Campus, formerly known as Quantum Biopower, in Connecticut. The financing will support targeted expansion of the facility’s capacity and capabilities to process food and green waste, recover valuable resources, and produce market-ready circular products, including bagged soil, compost, and mulch. The upgrades include equipment and infrastructure that will increase food waste pre-processing capacity.
“As Connecticut continues to address the environmental, economic, and infrastructure challenges associated with organic waste, the partnership underscores the catalytic role that flexible financing can play in moving proven facilities from food waste to energy to expanded, commercially durable resource recovery infrastructure,” said Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank.
The financing will support three complementary project elements: purpose-built equipment to recover valuable organic fertilizer from the anaerobic digester process; a fully automated bagging facility that will support higher-value finished compost, soil, and mulch products; and de-packaging equipment that will expand the facility’s ability to process packaged food waste that might otherwise be sent to disposal pathways.
“Connecticut has established itself as a national leader in building the policies and infrastructure needed to power a truly local circular economy, and Circular Services is proud to be advancing that vision on the ground. Building on our existing partnership, the Connecticut Green Bank has once again provided exactly the kind of catalytic investment that turns ambition into action — enabling us to expand our capacity and capabilities to meet the growing needs of the State,” said Brian Paganini, Vice President of Organics at Circular Services.
The Green Bank has a long-standing relationship with Circular Services. In 2016, the Green Bank issued a $2 million subordinated loan to support the development of Connecticut’s first anaerobic digester facility, then under Quantum Biopower, helping mobilize additional private capital investment, advancing the state’s organic waste diversion market, and producing renewable energy for the Town of Southington.
Today, the Southington campus remains a foundational part of Connecticut’s organics recycling infrastructure in support of Connecticut’s Comprehensive Materials Management Strategy targets and the expanded Commercial Organics Recycling Law. The facility includes a 40,000-ton-per-year anaerobic digester system that produces approximately 1.2 megawatts of renewable energy, powering more than 800 homes and several facilities, including Southington’s fire station, wastewater treatment facility, and municipal buildings. The digester is the longest continuously operating anaerobic digester in North America. The broader site has a permitted capacity of more than 100,000 tons per year, positioning it to serve a growing role as Connecticut works to divert organic material from disposal and build stronger in-state materials management capacity.
“Organic waste management solutions are such a highly leveraged way to cut emissions and build a more circular economy. This financing will expand diversion and processing capacity, unlock nutrient recovery and wastewater benefits, and help to prove-out how the Green Bank’s patient capital can be scaled across the state in support of state policy objectives for organics and materials management. We were thrilled to work with Circular Services to showcase the Green Bank’s Environmental Infrastructure strategy and our priority focus on organics,” said Leigh Whelpton, Director of Environmental Infrastructure Programs at the Connecticut Green Bank.
Together, these improvements are expected to strengthen Circular Services’ ability to increase in-state organics processing, improve wastewater and nutrient management, recover more value from food waste, and advance the economic case for circular products made from recovered materials. By helping convert organic waste into renewable energy, recovered nutrients, and marketable soil products, the project reflects a circular economy model in which materials that might otherwise be discarded are returned to productive use.
Circular Services continues to expand its presence and investment in Connecticut through its Southington campus and related organics operations. The company has identified the site as a flagship organics platform, building on the legacy of Quantum Biopower and expanding its ability to serve commercial, municipal, and residential food waste generators across Connecticut and the region.
The closing also highlights Connecticut’s leadership in advancing practical circular economy solutions. By supporting infrastructure that turns food scraps and other organics into renewable power, recovered nutrients, and usable products, the Green Bank and Circular Services are helping demonstrate how waste can be transformed into economic and environmental value.
About Circular Services
Circular Services is a leading developer and operator of circular economy infrastructure and services in the United States. With 38 recycling and composting operations, Circular Services provides holistic materials management services to municipalities and businesses across the country that keep valuable materials in circulation and minimize the cost and environmental impact of landfills.
Its organics operations include the Southington, Connecticut campus formerly known as Quantum Biopower, which supports organic waste recycling, renewable energy generation, composting, and production of recovered soil products. Learn more at www.circularservices.com.