King County鈥檚 Solid Waste Division announced the new Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station will be built in Kirkland.聽 The planned recycling and transfer station will replace the aging Houghton station, built over 60 years ago, located in Kirkland. The newer, larger facility will serve the growing communities of Kirkland, Redmond, Woodinville, Sammamish, and unincorporated northeast King County.
The transfer station siting decision is informed by the final environmental impact statement (EIS), which was published on March 10. Other information, including but not limited to cost and socioeconomic analysis also factored into the siting decision. King County plans to begin the design phase of the project later this year.
The new, state-of-the-art facility will be designed to include equipment to reduce the number of commercial truck trips, technology to better control noise, odor, and dust, and environmental enhancement to restore local habitat.
The new recycling and transfer station will also offer more disposal options, such as food and yard waste, and expanded recycling services, supporting Re+, King County鈥檚 effort to recover nearly 70% of materials currently being sent to the landfill, reducing climate impacts in the process.
鈥淗oughton is one of the busiest stations in King County鈥檚 system, but it lacks many of the modern recycling and disposal services available at our newer facilities,鈥� said Solid Waste Division Director Pat D. McLaughlin. 鈥淭his new transfer station, located in Kirkland will provide all the modern recycling and disposal services accessible to other county residents, while also reducing impacts on the neighbors and the environment.鈥�
The new station will also contribute to King County鈥檚 climate goals, outlined in the Strategic Climate Action Plan. It will be designed and built to the latest environmental standards, featuring green design certifications to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
“This new station provides us a great opportunity, not only to enhance our recycling and disposal services, but also to do it in a way that reduces our greenhouse gas emissions in the process,鈥� said McLaughlin. “We are committed to deep engagement with the City of Kirkland, community members, and the surrounding communities, and will be collaborative and responsive during design, construction, and operations once open.”