Where it is and when it's open
The Roberts Lane Transfer Station is arguably the most heavily utilized waste drop-off point for North Bakersfield and Oildale residents. Its convenience is its biggest asset, but its schedule can be frustrating.
Location
The facility is located at 1900 Roberts Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93308. Situated right in the heart of Oildale, it saves residents from making the long 40-mile round trip down Highway 58 to the Bena Landfill. Because of this proximity to densely populated residential neighborhoods, the county keeps strict controls on the types of vehicles allowed in.
Highly Restricted Hours
Unlike commercial landfills that operate daily, Roberts Lane operates on a severely restricted "residential" schedule. They are typically only open for a few hours on specific days (often Monday and Thursday evenings from 5 PM to 8 PM, and Saturdays from 8 AM to 2 PM). Do not drive to Roberts Lane on a Tuesday morning expecting it to be open. You will find locked gates.
Why their rules are so strict
If you show up at Roberts Lane with a truck full of broken concrete, the attendant will instantly reject you. Understanding how the facility works explains why they enforce these bans.
The Concrete Pit
Roberts Lane is not a landfill; no trash is buried here. It is a "transfer" point. When you arrive, you back your pickup truck up to a large concrete barrier. Below the barrier is an enormous metal pit or directly into the back of an 18-wheeler transfer trailer. You must physically lift every item out of your truck and throw it down into this pit.
The Weight Problem
The 18-wheeler transfer trailers have strict legal weight limits for driving on California highways. If a resident dumps 2,000 pounds of wet dirt, broken concrete, or roofing shingles into the pit, the transfer trailer will quickly exceed its legal highway weight limit before it is even physically full. This is why all dense, heavy materials are strictly banned at Roberts Lane and must be taken directly to the Bena Landfill.
The Equipment Limitations
At a massive commercial landfill, giant GPS-guided steel bulldozers can crush almost anything. At Roberts Lane, the trash is simply compacted into a trailer. Thick tree trunks, massive commercial tires, and dense construction beams cannot be processed here and will jam the system.
The strict material bans
Do not load your truck until you verify that your debris is allowed. Being rejected at the gate after spending an hour loading your truck in the Bakersfield heat is a miserable experience.
Construction & Demolition (C&D)
If you are remodeling a bathroom in Rosedale, you cannot bring the debris to Roberts Lane. They strictly ban drywall, tile, broken porcelain toilets, 2x4 lumber, roofing shingles, and old fencing. You must haul C&D waste to the Bena Landfill or hire a private junk removal company to handle it for you.
Dirt, Rock, and Concrete
As mentioned, these materials are too dense for the highway transfer trailers. Do not attempt to hide broken concrete blocks at the bottom of a load of cardboard; the attendants will catch it, and you risk being permanently banned from using the facility.
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Roberts Lane will not accept liquid paint, motor oil, car batteries, pool chemicals, pesticides, or fluorescent light bulbs. If you have these items, you must make a separate trip to the Special Waste Facility located at 3151 F Street (Standard Street).
Commercial Waste
Roberts Lane is funded and designed for residential use. If you show up in a commercial box truck or a dual-axle dump trailer filled with business waste, you will be turned away. Commercial operators must use the commercial scales at Bena or Shafter-Wasco.
What to expect on a Saturday morning
Because Roberts Lane is only open for six hours on Saturday, it becomes the bottleneck for the entire north side of Bakersfield.
The Massive Line
If you arrive at 9:00 AM on a Saturday, expect to wait. The line of pickup trucks and SUVs towing small trailers often stretches out of the facility gates and down Roberts Lane. It is not uncommon to idle in your truck for 45 to 60 minutes just waiting for your turn at the concrete pit.
The Tarping Check
Kern County strictly enforces load-tarping laws. While you are in line, the gate attendant will inspect your vehicle. If your truck bed is full of loose cardboard or a mattress that isn't strapped down and fully covered by a tarp, you will be hit with an "uncovered load fee." This fee is designed to penalize haulers who allow trash to blow out onto Oildale streets.
The Brutal Unloading
Once you finally reach the pit, the real work begins. You have to manually lift every heavy, dusty, spider-covered item out of your truck and throw it over the wall. In the middle of a Bakersfield July, doing this after waiting in line for an hour is exhausting and dangerous for your back.
When Roberts Lane is closed
If you find yourself stuck with a truck full of trash on a Tuesday morning when the Roberts Lane gates are locked, you need a backup plan.
Driving to Bena Landfill
If you absolutely must dump your household trash today, your only municipal alternative is the Bena Landfill. Unlike Roberts Lane, Bena is open daily (usually Monday through Saturday). However, keep in mind that Bena operates on commercial scales, meaning you will be charged a tipping fee based on weight, whereas Roberts Lane is often free for basic residential loads. You will also have to drive 40 miles round-trip down Highway 58.
Using Shafter-Wasco
For residents living in extreme northwest Bakersfield (such as the far ends of Rosedale Highway), driving to the Shafter-Wasco Landfill on Scofield Avenue is often faster than driving all the way out to Bena. Like Bena, Shafter-Wasco is a commercial landfill with daily operating hours, scales, and tipping fees. Ensure your load is tarped before hitting the highway.
When to hire Golden Kern instead
If dealing with the rules, the lines, and the labor at Roberts Lane sounds miserable, there is a better way.
We Take the Banned Items
Are you tearing down a fence or ripping up old carpet? Roberts Lane won't take it, meaning you have to drive all the way out to Bena. Golden Kern Junk Removal takes it all. We haul construction debris, heavy yard waste, concrete, and dirt. We bring it directly to the commercial landfills, saving you the 40-mile round trip.
We Do 100% of the Labor
Why spend your Saturday morning lifting heavy, dirty couches into a pickup truck, waiting in line for an hour, and then lifting them all over again at the transfer station pit? When you hire Golden Kern, our two-man crews carry the heavy items right out of your living room, load them into our commercial trucks, and drive away. You never lift a finger.
Common questions about Roberts Lane
Where is the Roberts Lane Transfer Station located?
The transfer station is located at 1900 Roberts Lane in Oildale, CA 93308, just north of central Bakersfield.
What are the hours for Roberts Lane?
Roberts Lane operates on a very restricted schedule. Historically, they are open Monday and Thursday evenings (5 PM – 8 PM) and Saturday mornings (8 AM – 2 PM). They are completely closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Always check with Kern County Public Works for current holiday closures.
Can I take dirt or concrete to Roberts Lane?
No. Roberts Lane explicitly prohibits construction and demolition (C&D) waste, dirt, concrete, roofing shingles, and heavy green waste. These dense materials exceed the highway weight limits of their transfer trailers and must be taken directly to the Bena Landfill.
Can I drop off a mattress at Roberts Lane?
Yes, Roberts Lane typically accepts standard household furniture, including mattresses, box springs, couches, and dining tables, provided they are part of a standard residential load.
Does Roberts Lane take old paint?
No. Roberts Lane does not accept any Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). Paint, motor oil, batteries, and pool chemicals must be taken to the Special Waste Facility located at 3151 F Street (Standard Street).
Do I have to pay to use Roberts Lane?
For standard residential household trash from Kern County residents, there is generally no tipping fee at Roberts Lane. However, you MUST have your load fully tarped and secured. If you arrive with an uncovered load, you will be forced to pay an uncovered load fee.
- Kern County Public Works — Roberts Lane Transfer Station
- Kern County Public Works — Special Waste Facility (Standard Street)
The information regarding facility acceptance rules, tarping laws, and operating hours is for logistical planning only. Kern County frequently updates its facility hours due to budget constraints or holidays. Always verify directly with Kern County Public Works before attempting a DIY haul.