New MRF opens in Bakersfield, Calif.

Metropolitan Recycling LLC (MRC), Bakersfield, Calif., a joint venture formed by five privately held local recycling companies, has opened a new state-of-the-art, 50,000-square-foot recycling facility. The material recovery facility (MRF) is located at the Mount Vernon Recycling Complex in Bakersfield and is expected to create numerous full-time jobs. The system will process commercial and residential single-stream recyclables, helping to execute on Bakersfield’s curbside recycling rollout and goal of reaching 75 percent diversion by 2020.

“We are very proud to bring a state-of-the-art facility to this community,” says Jacob Panero of Metropolitan Recycling and Varner Bros Inc. “This project was developed in collaboration with forward-thinking partners from the city of Bakersfield and Kern County. The MRF will sort, bale and ship all of the residential and commercial single-stream material from Bakersfield and much of Kern County for many years to come.”

MRC was formed 15 years ago by five privately owned Bakersfield area refuse collection companies: Price Disposal, Varner & Son Inc./Lamont Sanitation, Howard’s Garbage, Superior Sanitation and Varner Brothers Inc. This collaborative entity is a response to stay ahead of the curve in sustainability and recycling in an ever changing global marketplace. MRC also owns and operates a large volume construction and demolition (C&D) MRF at the same Mt. Vernon Recycling Complex.

Designed, manufactured and installed by Eugene, Oregon-based Bulk Handling Systems (BHS), the facility will process more than 30,000 tons of material annually on one shift.

 

“This system was designed to perform at a high level, allowing MRC to recover more than 95 percent of available recyclables,” says BHS Sales Manager Eric Winkler. “It was also designed with the flexibility to process more recyclables to keep up with future growth in regional demand.”

Panero continues, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate our loyal staff, most especially Construction Manager and Facility Manager Martin Graves, Head Supervisor Sergio Muñoz and our many partners from Bakersfield, Arvin, Shafter and Kern County.”