Tracy Material Recovery & Solid Waste Transfer

Tracy Material Recovery Facility and Transfer Station is located roughly five miles south of 11th Street on MacArthur Drive.The facility, known as the “MRF” (pronounced: murf), receives and processes the solid waste, recyclables, green wastes and wood generated by the City of Tracy, the community of Mountain House and the surrounding portions San Joaquin County.

Recycling

Recyclables from the curbside recycling program are delivered to the facility for sorting. Other materials (i.e. glass, cardboard, newspaper and plastics) may be delivered already sorted and will not need to be processed on the conveyor.

• The mixed recyclables are pushed up on to the sorting conveyor.
• Materials fall on to the sorting conveyor and operators begin the sorting process.
• Operators must work quickly to keep up with the speed of the belt.
• Typical mixed materials from the curbside program as they are sorted.
• Once the materials have been sorted, they are prepared for shipment to end users. This baled cardboard is ready for loading on a truck. Recycled products are shipped to local, national and international users.
• Newspaper awaiting shipment to a mill to become new newsprint.
• Plastic is sent to manufacturers who turn it into products such as furniture, fence posts, new bottles or fiber filling for coats.
• Recycled glass is used to make new glass bottles.

Green Waste Composting

Green waste is received at the Material Recovery Facility from the curbside yard and garden program, individuals, landscapers and the agricultural community. The green waste is cleaned to remove trash, debris and animal waste.After cleaning, the green waste is ground up for composting.After grinding, the material is formed into windrows. The composting occurs naturally as long as proper levels of moisture and aeration are maintained. The windrows “cook” for six to eight weeks until microbial action has converted the cellulose into compost.The mist rising from the windrows is proof that the microbes are doing their job. Windrows are typically 140 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit just below the surface and throughout.Proper aeration is acheived by turning the windrows often. If the oxygen level is not kept up to proper levels, the microbial action may stop and the material may rot.Once the windrows have completed the composting cycle, the material is screened to remove oversized particles and debris that may have been missed during early cleaning.Finally, the finished compost is sold to public and private users who mix it with soil completing the
“earth-to-earth” cycle.

Wood Waste Grinding

• Wood waste from the public, from construction and industry, Christmas trees, large shrubs and tree trimmings are received for grinding.
• The wood products are loaded into a “tub” grinder and ground down to a size that is usable by wood burning plants where electric energy is generated. Some wood is used to produce pressed board for construction.
• After grinding, the wood is collected in a large pile awaiting shipment to end users.
• Trucks are loaded with the ground wood and are transported to a burn plant or pressed wood factory.