King County Procurement Bulletin #38:
Vashon Transfer/Recycling Station

• Introduction
• Vashon Transfer/Recycling Station
• Sustainable Features
• For More Information
• Environmental Purchasing Program

Introduction

In June of this year, the Vashon Island Landfill (King County, Washington) reached capacity and the King County Solid Waste Division terminated operations. To meet the needs of the island residents, the Division built and opened a new Vashon Transfer/Recycling Station, completed in the Spring of this year, to accept solid waste and recyclables for transfer off the island. Sustainability was a primary focus during the design of this solid waste and recycling facility. A subcontractor was hired to review project specifications from a sustainability perspective and develop recommendations and new specification language in selected material categories.

The project was a success on many fronts. It included: an ongoing community involvement process; solicited operating employees' input in the design; incorporated artwork and recycled materials as integral building elements; and partnered with other County community service agencies on landscaping. The facility was also completed on time and under budget.

Sustainable features:

Recycled content materials used:

• Recycled fill – used as sub base for the road beds
• Concrete – used a minimum of 10% coal-combustion fly-ash as cementitious material in the concrete.
• Ceramic tile - used tiles with 50% post-consumer recycled glass content tiles in the rest rooms
• Rubber flooring - used a minimum of 50% recycled content in staff work areas
• Steel - used throughout the project with up to 90% recycled content for some components
• Mineral wool insulation - 75% recycled content.
• Gypsum Wallboard - minimum of 10% recycled content gypsum with 100% recycled paper
• Interior paint - minimum 50% recycled content.

Sustainable products:

• Low-emissivity (low E) glass
• Natural cork tack board
• Formaldehyde-free MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) cabinet substrate
• Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) form release product
• Landscape berm and sound wall minimize noise pollution
• Shielded light fixtures minimize light pollution

Water quality:

• Leachate will be reduced by covering the Landfill, preventing infiltration of precipitation into the refuse

Community involvement:

• A Community Action Committee participated in the development of the design of this community building.
• The King County Facilities Maintenance Division runs a work release program to learn landscaping and a program for chronic inebriates to learn nursery and greenhouse skills. All the planting and landscaping for the project was provided through this program.

Main players:

• Prime Consultant: Thomas/Wright, Inc
• Architect: The Miller/Hull Partnership
• Sustainablility Consultant: Paladino Consulting
• Contractor: Pease Construction, Inc

Special thanks to John Komorita, Senior Engineer, King County Solid Waste Division for making his project such a great success and for sharing it with us.

For More Information

News Release: Vashon Transfer/Recycling Station Opens

Sustainable Materials Specification Review (April, 1998) - [Adobe Acrobat PDF]

Paladino Consulting

Environmental Purchasing Program

The King County Environmental Purchasing Program assists County agencies in implementation of King County Executive Policy CON-7-1-2, which requires agencies to use recycled and other environmentally preferable products wherever practicable.

The program assembles information about these products and makes it available to specific agency users who can evaluate them and develop applications in County projects.

These procurement bulletins contain information about the results of product evaluations and other accomplishments of County agencies. We hope this information will help you find ways to use recycled materials in the work of your agency and that you will contact us if we can help you with further information or if you have suggestions.

Environmental Purchasing Program

King County Procurement & Contract Services

821 Second Ave, Suite 10

MS:  EXC-FI-0862

Seattle, WA 98104

(206)263-4279