Future Metro South recycling and transfer center

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Metro is looking for a site to build a new, state-of-the-art center for the collection of waste and recycling in Clackamas County.

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A modern facility

The future recycling and transfer center will be designed with many state-of-the-art features found in modern facilities like the North Transfer Station in Seattle, Washington. This station was designed with sustainability in mind, with features to improve safety, reduce energy demand and minimize noise, dust and odors. The site also hosts open public spaces for people to enjoy. Photo: courtesy of King County Solid Waste Division

worker amid a mountain of recyclables at Metro South

A new facility means better recycling

Many materials that come to Metro South still have reuse and recycle value, but it is difficult to sort recycling from trash at the current facility. With more space and an efficient design, more items can be recovered, reused and recycled.

public art installation at a transfer station featuring tires

Building a community asset

The new facility will be more than a place to collect waste, it will be an asset to the people of the region. The community’s input will inform the design of the facility so that its features will provide the greatest community benefits. These could include community gathering places, public art, an education space, a reuse store, or bicycle and pedestrian pathways. Photo by Carol dePelecyn, ReTire, 2007, from the King County Public Art Collection

long lines of cars waiting to get into Metro South transfer station

Many people use Metro South

For 30 years, Metro South has provided a space for businesses and residents to bring their waste and recycling. Over 275,000 customers visited the facility in 2020 – an average of 750 every day. The current facility was not designed for this many customers, which leads to long lines and a lot of traffic. A new Metro South site would make it more efficient to drop off bulky trash, recycling and hazardous waste.

As the region grows, so do our garbage and recycling needs. The aging Metro South transfer station can no longer provide the same level of service to the 275,000 public and private customers it serves every year.

Metro has been looking for a site to build a new, state-of-the-art facility in Clackamas County that could replace some or all of the garbage and recycling services at Metro South.

After nearly two years of searching for property without success, and canceling a contract for a potential site along Jennifer Street, staff have stopped actively searching and are looking at other ways to address operational challenges at Metro South and build resiliency into the garbage and recycling system of greater Portland while a plan for future facilities is created.

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