Zanker Materials Recovery Facility

In 1990, Zanker began the extensive permitting process for the Zanker Material Processing Facility, ZMPF, formally known as the Owens Coming Fiberglass Landfill. The ZMPF was fully permitted in December 1998, and officially began operations in June 1999.

The ZMPF is divided into several different processing areas, each capable of processing different types of waste streams. These areas include: Demolition Debris Recycling Area, Mixed Debris Recycling Area and the Wood Waste Recycling Area.

Demolition Debris Recycling Area

ZMPF designed and constructed a complete Demolition Debris Recycling Facility that can process unsorted demolition debris materials at the rate of 135 tons per hour. This facility consists of a patented combination of conveyors, screens, magnets and water separation that separates the materials into manageable and marketable products. These products are than directed to other recycling operations on site or shipped directly to end product users.

Mixed C&D Debris Recycling Area

ZMPF also processes an extensive amount of mixed debris and debris box’s daily through a 240 foot long C&D sorting conveyor system. The system is utilized to remove a variety of materials; up to 16 products from the typical mixed waste stream.

The sorting conveyor system, which includes elevated work-stations, disc-screens and magnets is located above large concrete storage bunkers that hold recovered materials. When the storage bunkers become full, the materials are routed for additional on-site processing, or loaded and hauled to approved recyclers. Residual materials are routed to a landfill for disposal.

The sorting system is capable of sorting 30 to 40 tons per hour with an average 60 to 70% diversion rate. The diversion rate and tons per hour vary depending upon the type of materials sorted.

Wood Waste Recycling

ZMPF's wood waste recycling plant processes clean wood loads hauled by residents and businesses, or separated from the Mixed C&D Debris Recycling Area or from the Demolition Debris Recycling Area. Using heavy equipment, wood is loaded into a grinder that shreds the wood. The shredded wood is then screened to separate the material into wood chips and fines, similar to sawdust. The wood chips are accumulated and sent to market as fuel for electric generation facilities or colored at the Zanker Road Landfill and used as landscape mulch. The fines are sold as soil amendments. All landscape products are sold to landscapers, contractors or the general pubic.