Metro has been looking for property to host a new transfer station in northern Clackamas County for nearly two years and has not found an appropriate site for sale. In 2021, after investigating a potential 26 acre property along Jennifer Street in the Clackamas Industrial District, Metro leadership determined that the site was too risky and expensive to prepare for the intended use and ended a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the seller.
In November 2021, staff were asked to shift their focus to developing a system facilities plan to look at regional garbage and recycling infrastructure needs to fulfill the goals in the 2030 Regional Waste Plan over the next 20 years. The plan will assess the region’s current public, private and non-profit garbage, recycling and reuse infrastructure, identify service gaps, and present approaches and a plan for future system investments.
This planning work will provide further guidance for any future Metro South site search. Staff will continue to explore available site opportunities in northern Clackamas County, but will discontinue the active site search until the system facilities plan is completed, which is expected in summer 2023.
The existing Metro South transfer station currently deals with operational challenges including high customer volume, traffic congestion and limited storage space. As an interim measure to address these issues, staff will develop and assess a number of possible solutions to reduce pressures at the facility while the system facilities plan is being completed.
Members of the public are encouraged to subscribe to receive periodic email updates on the progress of the project and the systems facilities planning work.