SPU North Transfer Station Opens With Large Community Turnout
The Seattle Public Utilities North Transfer Station grand opening was Saturday, December 10, and Integrated Design Engineers principal Ignasius Seilie was there to mark the occasion. Described by The Seattle Times as "the least dumpy dump you've ever seen" the new North Transfer Station station consists of a tipping/transfer building, a recycling building, an administration building, a community playground, green roof, and a 150 kW solar array. It replaces a station that was past its useful life and allows SPU to now sort inbound waste into separate recyclable, green waste, and solid waste streams. Previously, the station only accommodated trash.
The turnout for the grand opening surpassed Seattle Public Utilities' expectations, showing just how excited the Wallingford community is to have this gathering place for both waste—and people—in its backyard.
In a speech, a Wallingford Community Council representative praised Seattle Public Utilities for its commitment to do more than simply add nice community amenities to the station, instead allowing community stakeholder groups to influence the station's design. Deputy Mayor Kate Joncas, SPU General Manager/CEO, Mami Hara, and SPU Deputy Director for Solid Waste, Ken Snipes, also spoke to how special Seattle's newest transfer station will be for the City for many years to come.