State Rep. Alex Ramel learns the wonders of Orcas transfer station

Orcas Island is home to a leading example of a community-supported nonprofit dedicated to zero waste.

“Orcas Recycling Services is impressive, and it has a lot of space to do progressive initiatives. Executive director Pete Moe, being the innovative guy he is, makes it happen,” said San Juan County Solid Waste Coordinator Katie Fleming, who organized a tour of the facility with Washington State Representative 40th District Alex Ramel on July 26.

A handful of county officials, representatives from the San Juan Transfer station, ORS volunteers, OPALCO staff and select community members were also in attendance.

Ramel was shown the glass crusher, which turns recycled glass into usable building materials instead of shipping it off-island. The group heard about the new baler facility, which was completed this summer. Staff is currently learning how to operate the machine, which will reduce the inefficient mixed recycling stream by removing aluminum, cardboard, mixed paper, and plastics.

When co-mingled, these materials have little value but are worth money when separated and compacted into clean, uncontaminated bales. Baling also dramatically increases the percentage of recycled material and significantly decreases the carbon footprint by reducing the number of trucks hauling material to the mainland. Customers can help this initiative by not crushing aluminum cans and flattening cardboard to stack it in the totes on the z-wall.

ORS has installed solar panels on both The Exchange reuse center and the baler building, allowing the facility to generate more than 94,000 kWh annually – the fourth biggest solar array in the county. That number is more than half of the property’s usage; the rest will feed into the OPALCO grid. A longer-term goal is installing solar panels on its five-acre landfill, a collaboration with OPALCO that would provide electricity to the co-op’s members.

Ramel said the state aims to double its clean energy over the next 30 years and landfills are a “great spot” for solar panels.

“We need to encourage this in places where we can co-locate clean energy electricity,” he said.

The next major project for ORS is tackling food waste with a community compost program, which Moe feels is likely to become a reality given residents’ enthusiasm for zero waste.

“We have a well-trained community that is willing to do the extra work,” he said.

The tour finished with a stroll through The Exchange, the island’s beloved reuse center created in 1981 by community activists who wanted to create a system to “reduce, reuse, recycle” — before the phrase even existed.

Starting as a one-room cabin on the grounds of the Orcas Transfer Station, it grew into a collection of sheds filled with everything from skis to building materials to clothing that would otherwise end up in a landfill. The Exchange became a cultural institution, a tourist attraction and a source of affordable goods for struggling families. All profits were donated to local charities.

In 2011, San Juan County announced it wanted to stop managing solid waste. Fearful that a garbage corporation would take over the Orcas Transfer Station and evict The Exchange, the board of directors decided to respond to the county’s request for proposals.

In 2012, The Exchange/Orcas Recycling Services entered negotiations with San Juan County to take over management of the transfer station. In February 2013, a fire broke out in a trashcan just after closing time, and while no one was injured, The Exchange burned to the ground. Despite the setback, ORS took over the transfer station seven months later.

The Exchange reopened in November 2017 in a brand new, larger building complete with a fine art gallery and plenty of room to house Orcas Island’s treasures. It also has an online store through eBay at https://exchangeorcas.org/online-store/. Drop-off donations are available only by appointment through the website. The store is open during regular transfer station hours, and it’s always bustling.

“This year, with profits from the art gallery, we gave a $2,500 scholarship to a graduating high school senior,” Moe said.

Colleen Smith Summers photo. Left to right: Greg Sawyer of San Juan County; Jessica Hudson SJC; Cindy Wolf SJC Council; Carey Eskridge, Orcas Chamber; Kendra Smith, SJC; Pete Moe, Exchange; State Rep. Alex Ramel; Troy Lautenbach, Lautenbach Recycling; Katie Fleming, SJC; Krista Bouchey, OPALCO; Carolyn Moulton, Lautenbach Recycling; Angela Broderick, SJC; Jon Gratch, Exchange Board.