Learn about a potential location for the new transfer station that will offer convenient service in northeast King County

August 2, 2021

Summary

King County’s Solid Waste Division is considering a new site in Woodinville as a potential location for its Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station project, which will provide the community with convenient recycling and waste services for decades to come. Learn more about the site and offer input to the project Siting Advisory Group at a virtual meeting on Monday, Aug. 9.

Story

King County is considering a new site in Woodinville as a potential location for its new Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station, which will provide convenient, accessible recycling and waste services to residents of Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, Sammamish, and areas of northeast unincorporated King County.

Community members have the opportunity to learn more about the project during a virtual Siting Advisory Group (SAG) meeting on Monday, Aug. 9. Meeting details will be available at kingcounty.gov/northeast in the “What’s New” section.
 
The 12.9-acre site is known as “Woodinville 2” and is comprised of six separately owned parcels located at 15801 Woodinville-Redmond Rd. NE. The location was proposed by a SAG member in April. 

After preliminary review, King County’s technical team opted to present the site to the committee to score, weigh, and rank it against the same screening criteria used to evaluate the other candidate sites also currently under consideration:
 
• Winsome Trading site at 16111 Woodinville-Redmond Rd. NE in Woodinville.
• The current Houghton Transfer Station site at 11724 NE 60th St. in Kirkland.
• The Houghton Park-and-Ride site at 7024 116th Ave. NE in Kirkland.

Some of the features of the new site that prompted King County’s consideration include: 

• Absence of large buildings or structures.
• Lower acquisition costs based on existing uses and occupant relocation requirements.
• Some of the parcels are currently vacant.

The information gathered by the SAG, combined with public feedback, will help the Solid Waste Division determine which of the two Woodinville candidate sites will join the two Kirkland sites for further evaluation in an environmental impact statement (EIS) due in 2022.
 
The three sites will be studied in the EIS to evaluate the potential environmental and community impacts of the proposed project. The environmental review process includes robust opportunities for public engagement, and the public will be invited to submit comments on the proposed alternatives that will be considered by the project team.

King County has not yet identified a preferred alternative, nor is the county prepared to acquire or make offers on any sites at this time. 

The county identified the need for a new station in its 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan. The new facility will replace the aging and outdated Houghton Transfer Station in Kirkland that has been in operation since the mid-1960s. The existing Houghton facility does not accommodate the region’s growing population because it:

• Lacks space for comprehensive recycling services.
• Lacks waste compaction equipment for efficient loading and hauling to the landfill.
• Lacks adequate queuing space.
• Lacks space for waste storage in the event of a major regional emergency, such as an earthquake.

Enclosed with odor control features, the new facility will strongly connect with the county’s climate readiness and environmental protection work. 

For example, the addition of a compactor at the new station increases the efficiency of each semi-trailer load going to the landfill for final disposal, meaning few large transfer trucks on local roadways, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption. 

For information about the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Project, visit www.kingcounty.gov/northeast or call King County’s Solid Waste Division at 206-477-4466 or 711 TTY.
 
RELEVANT LINKS

• King County Solid Waste Division 
• Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Project 
• 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Annie Kolb-Nelson, King County Solid Waste Division, 206-477-5373

About the King County Solid Waste Division
The Solid Waste Division is guided by its vision to achieve Zero Waste of Resources by 2030, and to enhance the environment through collaboration and innovation. The division operates eight transfer stations, two rural drop boxes, and the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill – the only operational landfill in the county. Our stakeholders include residents and business owners in unincorporated King County and 37 cities throughout the county. Our mission is to deliver value our customers and stakeholders, and to continuously improve waste prevention, resource recovery, and waste disposal.