Public invited to open house for King County’s new Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station

May 5, 2022

Summary

King County’s Solid Waste Division will host a virtual open house and information session for the new Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station via Zoom on May 12, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Project staff will give updates on potential recycling and transfer station sites and host a question-and-answer session.

Story

A new modern, more eco-friendly recycling and garbage transfer station is planned for northeast King County in 2028 and King County’s Solid Waste Division wants input on the plan and potential location from those who live and work around it, and who will use its services. 
 
The new facility will replace the 50-year-old Houghton Recycling and Transfer Station in Kirkland. Four potential sites in Kirkland and Woodinville are under consideration.   
 
When it begins operating in 2028, the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station will provide convenient recycling and waste services for decades to come. The new facility will include a modern building featuring a community compatible design and sustainable features such as solar panels and stormwater capture to reduce its impact on the environment. It will also be designed in a way to significantly reduce noise, dust, traffic, and odor. 
 
Those improvements will help the county achieve energy savings and important reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through increased recycling options that will keep garbage out of the landfill and the addition of compaction equipment to reduce the number of hauling trucks going to and from the station.  
 
People who would like to learn more about the project are invited to attend a virtual open house and information session on May 12 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. via Zoom. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet project staff and hear updates on potential transfer station sites and participate in a question-and-answer session. Register for the May 12 public open house. 
 
Following the public forum, the Siting Advisory Group – a 25-member group representing the interests of people who live and work in Kirkland, Woodinville, and Redmond – will meet on Thursday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. to rank the top four transfer station sites. The public is welcome to join this virtual meeting and watch the advisory group do its work. Register for the May 19 Siting Advisory Group meeting.  
 
While virtual attendees of the Siting Advisory Group meeting will have an opportunity to provide comments to project staff, the best time to ask questions is during the May 12 open house. The Siting Advisory Group meeting will include public comment, but not a Q&A session. 
 
For more information on the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station project, visit kingcounty.gov/northeast or call King County’s Solid Waste Division at 206-477-4466 or 711 TTY.  
 
Spanish and Mandarin interpretation will be provided. Additional accommodations for people with disabilities and free in-language interpretive services are available on request by calling 206-477-4466 or 711 TTY. Summaries of the public forum and each of the Siting Advisory Group meetings will be available on the website.  
 
RELEVANT LINKS 
• Register for the May 12 Public Open House and Information Session 
• Register for the May 19 Siting Advisory Group meeting 
• Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station project 
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: 
Annie Kolb-Nelson, 206-477-5373