Yard Waste Recycling Facility

The SWA accepts and recycles more than 200,000 tons of yard waste annually. Approximately half of this material is processed at the SWA’s on-site Yard Waste Processing Facility. The other half is delivered by SWA tractor trailer to two private contractors under contract to the SWA for processing. The yard waste managed by the SWA is processed into mulch for use in the SWA’s Compost Facility, as a boiler fuel, or as a soil amendment.

Receiving and Drying

Yard waste is received at the SWA transfer stations or at the Yard Waste Processing Facility. From the transfer stations the material is transported to either the Yard Waste Processing Facility or one of the SWA’s contractors. Upon delivery to the Yard Waste Processing Facility the material is inspected and visible contamination is removed. The material is then stockpiled to dry prior to processing. The drying process is crucial to ensuring the quality of the end products.

Contaminate Removal, Processing and Screening

After 3 to 5 weeks of drying, the material is processed in a stationary system. This system consists of a manual picking station for removal of plastic bags, metal, and other contamination, a horizontal grinder to size reduce the material, and a series of screens that size the material to meet the desired specification. The final products are then stockpiled for end use.