According to Bill

Materials Recovery Facility commonly known as MRF. What is it and why do we need them? 

According to State law we MUST recycle a minimum of 50% of our trash or face a very costly fine up to $10,000 a day. Not meeting the requirement is just not an option. According to Bob Kellar, at one of our candidate debates and THE SIGNAL (March 1, 2008) we have just recently met that goal. Ok so we don’t need a MRF right? Wrong, because the percentage is going up to 75% and I know of no other way to accomplish that goal so, here comes the MRF!  For the record I believe we need this type of facility and soon. Meeting our requirement does buy us a little extra time but not much.

It is at this point we need to look at how a MRF works and why over 300 people (that I know of) are really upset over having this facility close to there homes.

The proposed MRF off Sierra Hwy is to process ALL the trash in the Santa Clarita Valley for recycling. That is what is called a DIRTY MRF as opposed to a clean MRF. A so called Clean MRF is one that only processes recyclables that we have already separated at our homes, you know, the stuff you put into the recycle bucket as opposed to the trash bucket. The dirty MRF will extract more recyclables because it removes more of the stuff from people who don’t watch what they put in the trash which can be recycled. ALL the trash is brought into this facility, dumped on the floor, pushed into hoppers, separated and processed. That’s the good part but there is another side to all this.

First, EVERY collection vehicle (trash truck) must come to this single location to dump its load. All due respect to the Burrtec’s of the world but these trucks are subjected to the most brutal driving conditions there is, stop & go all day long. The result is they require continuous maintenance just too keep them barely legal and on the road. It is estimated that currently over 800 of these truck trips a day 6 days a week will be required. These trucks, because of there weight, will cause additional vibrations to the homes in the area. Realtors know that the area east of Sierra Hwy across from friendly Valley is a slide area. Potential buyers must be notified of this before they buy a house there. The additionally vibration could cause a premature slide condition. Think that’s not possible, look at Highway 1 the Coast Hwy. Caltrans has restricted big rig traffic for years to reduce landslides.

Second, like it or not there is an odor that will be present. At least in part that odor will be ringing a big old dinner bell to all kinds of vermin and the creatures that eat some of the vermin. Just what YOU want in YOUR back yard RIGHT? There will also be a large number of at “gross weight”, (or close to it) trucks hauling the output of the plant down the freeway and Sierra Hwy.   Remember, this facility will be built and operated by Burrtec, a private sector owned company which is in business to make a profit. Ok, profit is not a dirty word so why does that matter? Well, you can bet that they will be taking in trash from other areas because they make money on the recyclables they extract. That means the facility will be processing trash from outside the city as well. Exciting to look forward to, RIGHT?

I can easily understand why folks in Canyon Country are upset at the prospect of all this suddenly popping up in there back yard and I don’t know of anyone that would be in a hurry to live close to this kind of a facility.  

I think this facility should be located more remotely and close to a rail line if possible. We could reduce some of the truck traffic if the output were to be shipped by rail and a site close to Cemex might fill that bill. I also believe we should consider having a second MRF facility on the west side. The reasons this would be good is

1. Less cross town traffic from the collection trucks.
2. 50% less truck traffic at the MRF.
3. Expansion in this Valley.

As all the reports are indicating that the population in this valley will double and surrounding areas are expanding at almost the same speed we need to plan ahead. If we find a suitable location on the west side NOW before the area is built up people will know in advance of the plants existence prior to their moving in.

In my opinion, The City and Burrtec should abandon this site, save the time and money you would spend on an EIR and put the MRF in a more appropriate location / locations and win a lot of positive PR in doing so. Judging from the reaction of the meetings I am aware of, the current site will generate nothing but very bad feelings at best and bitter law suits and anger at both the City and Burrtec at worst.   Clearly, the residence DO NOT want this facility at this location and I fear that an attempt to force this on them could cause severe resentment on MRF’s at large and make it even more difficult to find suitable  locations and that would not be a good thing.

I’m sure, if the City, Burrtec and the community work together we can come up with better locations and improved feelings of cooperation trust and respect.

Bill Arens
Canyon Country