Plans call for doubling recycling, robust sustainability efforts, new jobs and benefits
For the first time since it opened in 1990, operations at the Metro Central solid waste transfer station are changing hands. Metro has signed an estimated $38 million, seven-year contract with Recology Oregon Recovery Inc. While residents won't see any immediate changes, the commercial waste haulers, businesses and citizens who take trash and recyclables to Metro Central can expect considerable positive changes at the northwest Portland facility.
Metro decided to award the contract to Recology following a thorough review by an interagency evaluation team that determined the company had the best and most competitive proposal to manage Metro Central. Recology's guarantee to double the rate of materials recycled and it's robust sustainability plan to reduce the station's carbon footprint weighed heavy in the decision as well as its promise to improve opportunities for workers at the station. This all comes without significant increases in operation costs and with little to no impact on disposal rates.
Initially, Recology plans to employ 46 workers at Metro Central, with that number likely to increase to 59. The pay for entry level positions will be higher than current pay levels at the transfer station, and Recology will provide health benefits as well as community service days for employees. The contract with Metro also requires Recology to work with vendors that are either local, third-party certified (such as the Green Seal for environmental standards) or members of the Minority, Women, and Emerging Small Businesses program.
Recology takes over operations on April 1 after the current contract ends and plans modifications that will improve services at the transfer station and increase recycling opportunities by allowing for the recovery of more and different types of materials. Recology has promised the current rate of recycling will double, from 17 percent currently to 34 percent by the end of the first year of operations, and to 40 percent by the end of the contract in 2017. Stepping up the recovery of cardboard, wood and metal will make up much of that increase. Recology also plans to accept new materials at Metro Central, including asphalt roofing and clean drywall.
Recology has exciting plans that will improve sustainability at Metro Central with the aim to become carbon-neutral by 2015. The plans include running the station solely on wind power purchased through PGE's Clean Wind program and implementing an energy efficiency plan for the facility. Changing traffic flow and some handling of materials will reduce vehicle idling and the use of B5 biodiesel and diesel catalytic converters on equipment used on site will cut down emissions. Recology will also look at reducing water usage and replacing toxic solvents and lubricants with more environmentally friendly ones.
Recology is one of three companies that submitted proposals to run operations at Metro Central and Metro South in Oregon City, the other solid waste transfer station owned by Metro. The agreement with Recology involves only Metro Central. Metro has filed a notice of intent to award operations at the South station to Allied Waste.
Recology Oregon Recovery Inc. is a subsidiary of employee-owned, San Francisco-based Recology, Inc. which is that city's primary solid waste firm and implements a "zero waste" plan.