— from Orcas Recycling Service (ORS/The Exchange) —
Orcas Transfer Station site, cleared for improvements and a new Exchange!
If you’ve been past the Orcas Transfer Station lately you probably noticed something: A lot more light.
After receiving a permit from the Department Of Natural Resources, Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange (ORS) has cleared the old Exchange site of trees, in preparation for a new facility.
“This is just the first step in the process,” said Pete Moe, executive director of ORS. “Next comes the permitting, engineering and excavation that will create new roads, and a building site for a new Exchange.”
The trees, removed with significant volunteer support and services donated by Carson Sprenger and Rainshadow Consulting, are destined to become firewood. Much of it will be distributed to needy families with help from The Odd Fellows and the Orcas Island Food Bank.
Before any progress on the site could begin, ORS worked with their solid waste consulting engineer Terrill Chang to prepare a Facility Master Plan for the Orcas Island Transfer Station. The Plan was submitted to the County on March 5th, and is currently under review.
The Master Plan includes solutions to chronic traffic circulation problems and describes other important capital improvements designed to streamline operations, facilitate rebuilding of The Exchange, and expand recycling activities. The draft Plan is available to the public for download at www.exchangeonorcas.org.
Besides developing the Master Plan, ORS has been hard at work addressing other regulatory requirements, including developing an extensive Storm Water Management Plan, and obtaining an array of required permits from various agencies including San Juan County, the Department of Ecology, and Washington State.
“We are really looking forward to moving beyond the paperwork and getting shovels in the ground,” says Moe. “We have been writing grants that we hope will get us started building out the site, maybe as early as May or June.”
ORS has recently submitted grant applications to the Department of Ecology and the Orcas Island Community Foundation to support the engineering, grading, and site preparation that comes next.
The ORS Board of Directors has also spent a great deal of time analyzing the first six months of operations, and is currently developing a revised 2014 budget.
“It would be a huge understatement to say that we have learned a lot in the last six months,” says board president Tim Blanchard. “But we believe we have a good understanding of the business now, and we are really excited about pursuing our Zero Waste mission in the months ahead.”
Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange is a community-driven non-profit committed to the sustainable, responsible management of Orcas Island’s waste stream. ORS/The Exchange has been operating the Orcas Island Transfer Station since September, 2013. www.exchangeonorcas.org
Great going!! Things are looking really good.
Thank you to the people who have put in the sweat on this. It has a huge meaning to all the community.
Congratulations, all of you!! It’s an immeasurable contribution to keeping the rest of us neat!