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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 Year’s 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. In 2007, it is estimated that the green waste facility received over 200,000 tons of recyclable organic material. 

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:

Materials Not Accepted:

                                            
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 no 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 sections of no more than 6 feet when under 24 inches in diameter. Palm trunks that are over 24 inches in diameter cannot be longer than 24 inches in length. The sections must be within these limits or the load will be rejected. The load must be 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:

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.