Feb. 13, 2024
To request this newsletter in alternate formats, please contact the Solid Waste Division Customer Service Desk at 206-477-4466 or TTY 711.
Release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement
People seeking information on King County’s Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Project are invited to review a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and submit formal comments on the proposal through April 9, 2024.
Wherever it’s sited, the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station will have more benefits and fewer impacts than the current Houghton Transfer Station it will ultimately replace. The new station will feature compaction equipment to make hauling more efficient, which will reduce truck traffic and vehicle emissions. It will also be fully enclosed to contain noise and odors, offer more recycling services to keep garbage out of the landfill, and support regional environmental goals to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions.
The environmental review process will also include three public hearings, two in-person and one virtual, as well as an online open house at kingcounty.gov/northeast where the public can learn about the draft EIS and submit comments.
Public Hearings:
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Draft EIS Public Hearing #1 (in-person): Wednesday, March 6, 2024
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6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Lake Washington High School
- 12033 NE 80th St, Kirkland, WA 98033
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Draft EIS Public Hearing #2 (Virtual): Thursday, March 7, 2024
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Draft EIS Public Hearing #3 (in-person): Wednesday, March 13, 2024
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6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Woodinville High School
- 19819 136th Ave NE, Woodinville, WA 98072
The Notice of Availability offers an overview of the project draft EIS, and ways to participate in the comment period.
Notice of Availability: Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Project
Proponent/Lead Agency: King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Solid Waste Division (the Division)
Issuance date: February 7, 2024
Project Description: King County Solid Waste Division proposes to site, design, and build a modern transfer station in northeast King County to meet the region's growing demand for environmentally responsible waste management services. The new station will replace the aging Houghton Recycling and Transfer Station in Kirkland, which has been in service since the mid-1960s and is unable to offer the recycling services customers increasingly need and want. The new facility will also make recycling and waste disposal services more convenient for many customers in this area who currently must drive 30 minutes or more to reach a transfer station or drop box.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Contents: The draft EIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of constructing and operating a new recycling and transfer station associated with each alternative. It covers aspects of the built and natural environment including, but not limited to, the following areas: earth, air, water, plants and animals, energy, natural resources, environmental health, land use, transportation, public services and utilities. Three alternatives are evaluated in the document including two action alternatives and a No Action alternative.
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No Action Alternative – A new recycling and transfer station would not be sited in northeastern King County. The existing Houghton Recycling and Transfer Station at 11721 NE 60th Street in Kirkland would continue to be operated.
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Alternative 1: The existing Houghton Recycling and Transfer Station property at 11724 NE 60th Street in Kirkland. Two options:
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A – A facility constructed after the existing transfer station building is closed and demolished
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B – A facility constructed while the existing transfer station building is open and operating, and then the existing transfer station building would be closed and repurposed or replaced after the new station is open
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Alternative 2: A site composed of six properties in the 15000 block of Woodinville-Redmond Road NE in Woodinville.
Public Comment Period: Agencies, Tribes, and members of the public are invited to review and comment on the draft EIS. The Division will consider all comments received during the comment period, as well as comments received during earlier EIS scoping periods, for consideration in the Final EIS.
Comments may be submitted via email to northeast@kingcounty.gov, in writing or via testimony at three scheduled public hearings, or via the project online open house at kingcounty.gov/northeast. Comments sent by mail should be addressed to King County Solid Waste Division, Attn: Mary O’Hara, Project Manager, 201 S. Jackson Street, Suite 5701, Seattle, WA 98104-3855.
Comment Deadline: The deadline for submittal of comments is April 9, 2024.
Document Availability: The draft EIS and appendices are available for review electronically on the project website at kingcounty.gov/northeast and hard copies are available for review at the King County Solid Waste Division, 201 S. Jackson Street, Suite 5701, Seattle or at the locations listed below:
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King County Library System, Bothell 18215 98th Avenue NE Bothell, WA 98011
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King County Library System, Kirkland 308 Kirkland Avenue Kirkland, WA 98033
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Kirkland City Hall 123 5th Ave Kirkland, WA 98033
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King County Library System, Redmond 15990 NE 85th Street Redmond, WA 98052
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King County Library System, Sammamish 825 228th Avenue SE Sammamish, WA 98075
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King County Library System, Woodinville 17105 Avondale Road NE Woodinville, WA 98072
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Woodinville City Hall 17301 133rd Ave NE Woodinville, WA
The Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Project Team
Stay Informed, Stay Engaged in the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station (NERTS) Project
The Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Project team is sending occasional newsletters to keep you informed and engaged in the project, including alerting you to ways you can help shape project decisions. Some information will also be related to the many recycling and environmental services we currently offer to the people we serve in King County. Please visit www.kingcounty.gov/northeast to learn more about the project.
Relevant Links
About us
King County's Solid Waste Division is guided by its vision to achieve Zero Waste of Resources, 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.
For more 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.
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