Metro Central solid waste transfer station celebrates its 20th anniversary
The Metro Central solid waste transfer station first opened its doors 20 years ago, welcoming in trash, recyclables and hazardous waste from residents, businesses and commercial waste haulers. Embracing the philosophy that one person's trash is another's treasure, the station has recycled more than half a million tons of material and served more than 2.3 million public customers at its Northwest Portland location. In two decades, it has moved more than 6.5 million tons of waste to landfills, a feat equal to hauling the Great Pyramid of Giza from Portland to Tacoma, Wash.
But the transfer station's work isn't limited to accepting and recycling trash. Metro collects a 50-cent surcharge on each ton of garbage disposed at the station. From that money, a committee of residents from Metro Central's Northwest Portland neighborhood selects local improvement projects to fund. The 18-year-old grant program has invested more than $3.1 million in 328 different neighborhood improvement projects, ranging from youth leadership programs to grocery delivery services for the elderly and disabled.
Community Warehouse is one organization that has benefited from the Metro Central program, receiving $50,000 in Metro community enhancement grants since 2006.
The Warehouse is a Portland nonprofit that collects donated household goods like furniture, kitchenware and linens, and distributes them at no cost to families and individuals in need. It mirrors the transfer station's ideals, recycling tons of usable furniture each year.
"We rely on grants to keep our doors open. Donated funds from the community allow us to do the work we do," Executive Director Kristy Wood said. "Most people in the area would be surprised by how many kids literally don't have a bed to sleep on. Last year we gave away nearly 1,400 beds for kids. This is a great example of neighbors helping neighbors to create stable homes for kids."
The Warehouse is just one of the more than 300 different projects helping turn transfer station dollars into change in the Portland community. That’s exactly the type of positive change Metro Central hopes to continue funding two decades from now—giving back as much as it takes.