More than 1 million tons of food waste end up in Washington state landfills each year. One company is hoping its Longview biogas facility will change this. Divert, Inc. is set to break ground Sept. 7 on its Integrated Diversion and Energy Facility at the Mint Farm Industrial Park on Prudential Boulevard.

The plan: take in biological food waste, convert those materials into usable fuels and reduce greenhouse gases.

Company representatives met with U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, union leaders and city officials Monday to explain how the facility would be a net benefit for Longview’s economy and meet statewide goals to remove harmful emissions.