Future Metro South recycling and transfer center | Metro

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Metro was looking for a place to build a modern collection center for waste and recycling in Clackamas County.

Overview
Engagement

Staff at Metro South assisting customers with household hazardous waste disposal

The Metro South site hosts the busiest household hazardous waste collection facility in the U.S.

Customer unloading materials for disposal at Metro South transfer station

Metro's transfer stations are one of the few places in greater Portland where households can get rid of their waste.

pile of batteries of varying sizes and types for disposal

There are many household items, like batteries, cleaners and lightbulbs, which shouldn't be thrown in the trash. Facilities like Metro South offer safe disposal options for these and other materials.

In 2020 Metro started to look for a site to build a new, modern facility in Clackamas County that could replace some or all of the garbage and recycling services at Metro South. The aging facility cannot safely serve the number of customers it receives now, nor the predicted growth of customers in the future.

Metro searched for property to host a new transfer station in northern Clackamas County for nearly two years but was not able to secure an appropriate site. Metro is now looking at other ways to address operational challenges at Metro South.

Before building any new facility to replace Metro South, Metro is assessing what garbage, recycling and reuse facilities are needed throughout greater Portland. The goal is to create a capital investment plan to improve services now and for future generations. Learn more at the Garbage and Recycling System Facilities Plan webpage.

Site search history

From 2020-21 Metro staff developed a set of requirements to help identify potential transfer station sites in Clackamas County. These included properties near the current facility, industrial zoning and a lot size of at least seven acres. After meeting these foundational needs, Metro used 18 other factors to score and rank the remaining potential sites.

Future Metro South siting criteria

163.5 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 23, 2021

At the time of the assessment, only two properties were listed for sale. A property along Jennifer Street in Clackamas County was evaluated for potential purchase. Ultimately, Metro leadership determined the site was too risky and expensive for the intended use.

The new recycling and transfer center would have been planned and built to be an asset to the local community. Metro engaged with community members and stakeholders to help inform site selection and early conversations about design and services. Staff reached out to people who would have been directly impacted if a new recycling and transfer center were built in the area.

Stakeholder groups included neighboring businesses and residents, local government partners, solid waste industry, tribal governments and Clackamas River conservation groups. Metro also convened a community advisory group, in partnership with Unite Oregon, which was made up of people who lived, worked, worshiped or attended school within 5 miles of the existing Metro South transfer station.

The group met 11 times between August 2020 and October 2021 to learn about the project and to provide input about opportunities and potential impacts. The advisory group developed community criteria to be used with any property that is considered for purchase in the future.

Future Metro South Station - Community Lens

240.81 KB Adobe Acrobat PDF Published Jun 23, 2021

Meeting summaries

Meeting 1, Aug. 13, 2020: Review community agreements, transfer station overview, proposed future meeting topics.
Meeting materials

Meeting 2, Aug. 27, 2020: The garbage and recycling system, 2030 regional waste plan, Metro South overview of services.
Meeting materials

Meeting 3, Oct. 1, 2020: Property search, siting are demographics and racial equity analysis intro, modern transfer stations, reducing common nuisances.
Meeting materials

Meeting 4, Oct. 22, 2020: Reduction of common nuisances (continued), Community enhancement grants program.
Meeting materials

Meeting 5, Nov. 12, 2020: Environmental Justice presentation and discussion.
Meeting materials

Meeting 6, Dec. 3, 2020: Siting area racial equity analysis, community input.
Meeting materials

Meeting 7, Feb. 10, 2021: Metro South community advisory group reviews draft Community Lens, next steps.
Meeting materials

Meeting 8, March 10, 2021: Review and finalize community lens, Introduction to Jennifer Street location.
Meeting materials

Meeting 9, April 14, 2021: Review of community lens draft, Jennifer street location discussion.
Meeting materials

Meeting 10, May 12, 2021: Government decision making and how to testify
Meeting materials

Meeting 11, Oct. 11, 2021: Discussion of Jennifer Street site decision; Community Lens review and discussion.
Meeting materials

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