Maryland’s Baltimore County has opened a $23 million material recovery facility (MRF) and transfer station in Cockeysville.

The county said in a news release that the single-stream facility will process 35 tons of recyclables per hour and have the capacity to sort more than 70,000 tons of recyclables per year. It will process residential mixed paper, bottles and cans.

The Maryland Environmental Service (MES) oversaw development of the 55,000 sq.-ft. facility, including both the transfer station and MRF, and will operate both facilities for the county.

Collectively, the county expects the new MRF and transfer station to generate approximately $750,000 to $2 million per year in revenue after expenses, depending on market conditions. The new MRF also creates 13 new jobs.

The operation began partial operations in May after the project began in 2012. The MRF’s automated equipment consists of 86 conveyor belts, six sorting screens, three optical sorters and two balers.

"This new facility allows Baltimore County to manage our solid waste stream ourselves and to sort our recyclables locally, keeping the full economic benefit for our taxpayers," said County Executive Kevin Kamenetz.