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The current Houghton Transfer Station facility has reached End of Life. Starting in 2019, King County Solid Waste Division evaluated options for where to build a replacement. This project is known as the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station project, or NERTS.
In March 2025, King County Solid Waste decided to site the NERTS at the location of the current Houghton Transfer Station. The City of Kirkland and Friends of Taylor Field (FoTF, a community organization) have each filed an appeal of this decision, for both the EIS and the siting decision. The Appeals state that the EIS was inadequate, and therefore the siting decision is invalid. The hope is that a more complete EIS will lead to a different siting decision.
You can view the EIS here
You can also view letters sent to the Neighborhood Association below.
There are 3 current options described in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (which you can view here):
1A: Demolish the current Houghton Transfer Station and build a new facility on the same site
1B: Construct a new facility somewhere else on the Transfer Station property while the old facility remains in operation; then close the old facility once the new one is complete
2: Purchase property in Woodinville along Woodinville-Redmond Road NE, build the new facility there, and close the Houghton Transfer Station.
The decision of how to proceed will be made by King County. The City of Kirkland has made many statements opposing any new facility on the site of the current transfer station, but it's ultimately not their decision. The City of Kirkland has committed to ensuring that, should the existing site remain in use, that King County will spend their land acquisition budget in making improvements in the local area, including road safety improvements.
If the siting decision is maintained, the Neighborhood Association will seek to be very active in the site design process and in asking for mitigations and improvements near the site.
You can contact the county via the NERTS project page to express your opinion, and you can also contact the King County Council.
Letters from King County and City of Kirkland
Letters from King County and City of Kirkland
March 10th, 2025:
March 10th, 2025:
Hello,
Because you submitted formal comments during the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) public comment period or requested to be a Party of Record, we are letting you know that the final Environmental Impact Statement for King County’s Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Project is now available.
Wherever it’s sited, the Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station will have more benefits and fewer impacts than the current Houghton Transfer Station it will ultimately replace. The new station will feature compaction equipment to make hauling more efficient, which will reduce truck traffic and vehicle emissions. It will also be fully enclosed to contain noise and odors, offer more recycling services to keep garbage out of the landfill, and support regional environmental goals to protect the environment and reduce carbon emissions.
NOTICE OF ISSUANCE AND AVAILABILITY: FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE NORTHEAST RECYCLING AND TRANSFER STATION PROJECT
Proponent/Lead Agency: King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks, Solid Waste Division (the Division)
Issuance date: March 10, 2025
Project Description: King County Solid Waste Division proposes to site, design, and build a modern transfer station in northeast King County to meet the region's growing demand for environmentally responsible waste management services. The new station will replace the aging Houghton Recycling and Transfer Station in Kirkland, which has been in service since the mid-1960s and is unable to offer the recycling services customers increasingly need and want. The new facility will also make recycling and waste disposal services more convenient for many customers in this area who currently must drive 30 minutes or more to reach a transfer station or drop box.
The site alternatives include:
No Action Alternative
Action Alternative 1: The existing Houghton RTS property at 11724 NE 60th Street in Kirkland. Two options:
o 1A – a facility constructed after the existing transfer station building is closed and deconstructed or demolished; and
o 1B – a facility constructed while the existing transfer station building is open and operating, and then the existing transfer station building would be closed and repurposed, or deconstructed or demolished and replaced after the new station is open.
Action Alternative 2: A site comprised of six tax parcels in the 15000 block of Woodinville-Redmond Road NE in Woodinville
Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Contents: In accordance with the State Environmental Policy Act, the final EIS identifies potential significant impacts; describes mitigation measures that can be used to avoid impacts or reduce them below significant levels; and summarizes any significant unavoidable adverse impacts of the proposed alternatives to earth; air (including odor); water (including surface and groundwater quality and quantity); plants and animals; greenhouse gas emissions; environmental/human health; noise and vibration; land and shoreline use (including recreation and historic and cultural preservation); aesthetics, light, and glare; transportation; and public services and utilities.
The final EIS also addresses comments received on the draft EIS and responds to those comments.
Document Availability: The final EIS and appendices are available for review electronically on the project website at: kingcounty.gov/northeast and hard copies are available for review at:
King County Solid Waste Division
201 S. Jackson Street, Suite 6400
Seattle, Washington 98104
Or at the following locations:
Kirkland City Hall
123 5th Ave
Kirkland, WA 98033
Redmond City Hall
15670 NE 85th St
Redmond, WA 98052
Woodinville City Hall
17301 133rd Ave NE
Woodinville, WA 98072
Appeal: Anyone wishing to appeal the adequacy of this final EIS must file a Notice of Appeal and the appeal fee with the SEPA Responsible Official at the following address:
King County Solid Waste Division
Pat D. McLaughlin, SEPA Responsible Official
ATTN: Division Director’s Office
201 S. Jackson Street, Suite 6400
Seattle, WA 98104-3855
Pursuant to King County Public Rule PUT 7-4-1 (PR), King County Code section 20.22.040(Z) and the other applicable provisions of King County Code 20.22. (re-codified from former K.C.C. section 20.24), a Notice of Appeal must be filed by March 27, 2025 and be accompanied by the appeal fee of $250.00. Payment must be by check or money order made payable to "King County Treasurer.” For more information about this process see: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dnrp/waste-services/wastewater-treatment/capital-projects/environmental-review/sepa-appeal. \
SEPA Responsible Official: Pat D. McLaughlin
Position/Title: Division Director, King County Solid Waste Division
Phone: 206-477-4466; TTY Relay: 711
Address: King County Solid Waste Division, 201 S. Jackson Street, Suite 6400, Seattle, WA 98104-3855
Sincerely,
The Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station Project Team
----------------
March 7th, 2025:
March 7th, 2025:
Dear South Rose Hill Bridle Trails Neighborhood Association,
I am writing to provide you with the latest updates regarding the proposed King County Northeast Recycling and Transfer Station (NERTS) project. We know this project is of particular interest to the SRHBT neighbors, so please share this info at your upcoming neighborhood meeting and in any neighborhood e-newsletters.
We expect the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) to be published by King County Solid Waste Division mid-March. The FEIS is not a siting decision. This document will provide a comprehensive analysis of the anticipated environmental impacts associated with a new transfer station at either of the two locations being considered, the current Transfer Station site or a location in Woodinville. Additionally, the FEIS will address the many comments made on the Draft EIS last year, including comments made by neighbors and Kirkland residents. Our team of staff subject matter experts will evaluate the FEIS to ensure that all comments regarding potential impacts are adequately addressed. Once the FEIS is published, the City plans to send another formal letter to King County Solid Waste Division reiterating our expectation for significant mitigation measures at either site.
Following the publication of the FEIS, the King County Solid Waste Division Director is expected to announce the final siting decision by the end of March. Our team continues to be in close communication with County staff and will monitor for any additional updates leading up to the FEIS publication and siting decision.
We are committed to keeping all current Transfer Station neighbors and interested stakeholders informed and engaged as this project evolves. After a siting decision is made, we anticipate scheduling a community meeting to talk about next steps in the NERTS process. We will share meeting details with you, and the rest of the neighborhood, as soon as available.
In the meantime, you can find the latest information on the NERTS project, including the draft EIS at www.kingcounty.gov/northeast.
Kind regards,
Jenna McInnis
Solid Waste Programs Lead
City of Kirkland
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