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Public Works - Solid Waste Division's Green Waste Recyling

Mt. Vernon Recycling and Composting Facility

Location & Contact Information

The facility is located at 2601 S. Mt. Vernon Avenue, just 1.5 miles south of HWY 58. For any questions or additional information, please call the facility at (661) 835-8873 or the Solid Waste Office at (661) 326-3114.

Hours of Operation
The site is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., seven days a week. It is closed on the following holidays: New Years Day, Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day.

History of the Facility
Co-sponsored by the County of Kern, the Mt. Vernon Recycling and Composting Facility was opened in an effort to divert recyclable yard and wood material from the landfills. By turning the green waste received at the facility into useable material, such as compost and mulch, much-needed space at area landfills is saved for future use.

When the green waste facility first opened its doors in the early 1990s it was located on roughly five acres and was operated by only two City of Bakersfield employees. As a result of Bakersfield’s rapid growth and an increase in the facility’s popularity, the Mt. Vernon Recycling and Composting Facility is now operated on 97 acres by 38 City of Bakersfield staff members. The facility is also home to Metropolitan Recycling Corporation, a construction and demolition recycling operation that employs roughly 15 people onsite.

Materials Accepted
As there is no gate fee to dump at the green waste portion of the Mt. Vernon Recycling and Composting Facility, the cooperation of customers is essential in managing the inbound material. The facility does reserve the right to refuse any load. The following materials are accepted at the facility:

                          
*No large palm trunks over 10 ft. Trunks are full of moisture and cannot be put in the grinder unless completely dried out. Trunks must be on the top of the load.

Materials Not Accepted:

Trash                                    Root Ball and Logs (Over 24 Inches)
Lead Base Painted Wood       Wood Treated with Creosote or Arsenic (Such as Telephone or Railroad Ties)
Dirt                                       Tumbleweeds
Hazardous Materials              Formica
Paint                                     Oil
Metals                                   Any Accepted Material over 10 ft. in Length
Tires                                       

Tree Trunk, Root Balls and Branches Acceptance Requirements:

Considering that all wood and tree limbs are broken down by using a grinder at the facility, there are certain additional acceptance requirements for these materials for the protection of equipment.

Root Balls: No root ball more than 24 inches (2 ft.) in diameter will be accepted. All dirt, PVC, metal and debris must be removed from the root ball prior to dumping.

Tree Trunks: All tree trunks will be cut to a length of no more than 10 feet, and no more than 24 inches in diameter.

Branches: All branches of any size must be cut to a length of not more than 10 feet.

Palm Fronds: Palm fronds must be unloaded in a fashion that will allow staff to easily separate fronds. Fronds must be set aside and dried before being processed.

Palm Trunks: Trunks must be cut into lengths of no more than 10 feet and unloaded in a fashion that allows staff to separate trunks from the remainder of the load.

Green waste Products For Sale

All green waste material received at the facility is recycled onsite for reuse as either compost or ground cover. The extensive composting process used helps destroy plant disease and weed seeds, which provides a clean and helpful additive to top soil – promoting healthy plant growth. Listed below are the products sold at the green waste facility and the cost:

Customers can also bring in bags to self serve with any of the above listed materials for $1.00 tax included per bag. The customer will be responsible for filling each bag and purchase price must be paid prior to filling up with material.

Alternate Facilities

Kern County Waste Management offers alternative locations to dispose of items not accepted at the Mt. Vernon Recycling and Composting Facility. For more information regarding these locations and accepted materials, please call (661) 862-8900 or (800) 552-KERN, option 6.