If you’ve driven past 2200 Arrow Highway this summer, you’ve likely seen activity at the Irwindale MRF Facility. After receiving a Temporary Certificate of Occupation in late May, Athens Services spent the summer testing equipment, calibrating systems and training staff. With full-scale recycling operations underway this September, the 155,500-square-foot plant is already sorting tens of thousands of tons of paper, plastic, metal, glass and organic waste. City leaders say the facility will divert nearly 200,000 tons from local landfills each year and help Los Angeles County reach its zero-waste goals. More than 150 full-time employees now work here, earning competitive pay and benefits.
Inside the Irwindale MRF Facility
The Irwindale MRF Facility uses cutting-edge technology to speed up recycling. Optical sorters and robotic arms scan each load to pull out plastics, metals and glass with better than 95 percent accuracy. An auger screen system separates cardboard, while magnets and eddy-current separators capture ferrous and nonferrous metals. To keep neighbors comfortable, the fully enclosed building muffles noise and dust. Rooftop solar panels supply a portion of the plant’s electricity, and a 20,000-square-foot covered transfer station lets trucks tip materials without waiting outdoors. Operators track performance on real-time digital dashboards that flag contamination or equipment hiccups. When demand calls for it, the facility can turn leftover refuse into fuel for local energy plants.
Community Benefits of Irwindale MRF Facility
This facility isn’t just a recycling center—it’s a community partner. In collaboration with Irwindale’s workforce development office, Athens Services offers paid internships and hands-on training for residents interested in green-tech careers. Nearly $20 million in construction spending went to local contractors and suppliers, boosting area businesses. By processing recyclables close to home, the plant has cut dozens of truck trips on nearby freeways each week, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and road wear. Its organic waste line sends food scraps to county composting facilities, creating soil amendments instead of landfill methane. Athens Services also opened a public outreach office on site to host school tours, neighborhood workshops and community clean-up days.
A Site Reborn
Before construction began in March 2022, the five-acre parcel sat vacant in a heavy-manufacturing zone. Environmental reports filed with the City of Irwindale described the land as undeveloped and in need of soil remediation. Project planners installed storm-water controls, planted native landscaping and answered public questions about traffic and air quality. After city approval in mid-2023 and construction in late 2024, the first recyclables rolled through the sorting lines this May.
Get Involved
Athens Services will host a ribbon-cutting event in late September. All residents, schools and community groups are invited to tour the plant, learn recycling tips and explore job opportunities. To find event details and recycling guidelines, visit https://www.athensservices.com/.
