The following was submitted by the Orcas Island Exchange.

We have a big construction update for you this month: Island Excavating broke ground on Aug, 10. Thus begins the ‘clearing and grading’ phase of the project, that will create a new, safer traffic pattern for the ORS transfer station, as required by our contract with the county. It also upgrades utilities and, importantly, provides a big flat building space for a new Exchange reuse facility!

Many have noticed and commented on recent tree removal. We assure you we love trees as much as you do, but the trees need to go to make way for the traffic improvements. We will re-plant the site beautifully when construction is done—promise! In fact, several of the island’s best landscapers have already volunteered their services!

The next phase is the Exchange building itself. We have determined that a large metal building is the best way to go; but we are working on a design that will best serve our needs. Preliminary designs have been sent to several firms that manufacture buildings (including pole-buildings, all-metal buildings and variations that use fabrics), and we are in discussions with all of them.

The team at ORS/The Exchange wants to update you, in person, on what we’ve been up to. Please join staff and the board of directors on Tuesday, Aug, 25 at the Eastsound Firehall from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. We will discuss the progress and timeline for the road construction project, as well as the advancements and challenges of designing a new Exchange reuse facility.

Come by to see drawings, discuss operational issues, and more. We will be collecting contact info from folks who want to volunteer and/or work at The Exchange. We will need staff, but we will need even more volunteers to help with everything from sorting items to helping with fundraising campaigns.

San Juan County Islanders pay the highest rates in the state to get rid of garbage. When you think about the amount of money and energy it takes to get our trash from here to a landfill way out in southeastern Washington, it’s no surprise.

The fact that tons of that garbage is actually reusable and never should leave the island makes this pretty absurd. And that’s why we are here doing what we can to promote a zero-waste future for Orcas Island (and rebuild The Exchange)!

What is garbage and what is not garbage? Find out here: http://www.exchangeorcas.org/solid-waste/.

The Exchange is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that relies on financial support by individual and community members. We have a small team that works hard to realize the vision of a zero-waste community on Orcas Island, but we need your help to make this vision a reality.

For a monthly donation of just $5 or a one-time donation of $25, your efforts will go a long way in helping your local community to reduce the environmental impact of its waste stream and keep valuable goods in the households and businesses on Orcas Island where they belong.

Go to http://www.exchangeorcas.org/donate/ for more information.