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Thurston County details $20–22M reconfiguration of Waste & Recovery Center; South County expansion paused
Summary
Thurston County Public Works presented a status update on a planned reconfiguration of the Waste & Recovery Center, recommending a design‑build delivery and estimating $20–22 million for the work; expansion of South County transfer facilities is on hold pending completion of the primary site and available funding.
Thurston County Public Works presented a status update May 28 on major solid‑waste facility projects, including a proposed reconfiguration of the county’s Waste & Recovery Center and a paused plan to expand South County transfer capacity.
Public Works Director Karen Lees told the Board of County Commissioners the Waste & Recovery Center reconfiguration stems from a 2018 Solid Waste Facility Condition Master Plan and aims to reduce maintenance costs, improve customer access and safety, and add operational capacity. The county is recommending a design‑build delivery approach and seeks consultant and design‑build teams through a two‑step qualifications/proposal procurement process.
County staff said the basis of design (completed in 2024) separates residential and commercial traffic, adds a second transfer building with redundancy for compactors, consolidates operations and outreach space, and relocates and expands recycling collection. Staff emphasized that maintaining continuous operations at the active facility during construction is a top priority.
Public works staff described design‑build as a collaborative delivery method that pairs designers and contractors under one contract, which can accelerate schedules, improve constructability and shift some change‑order risk to the design‑build (DB) firm. Staff said the county has issued a request for qualifications for a project consultant to support the procurement; a separate RFP will select the DB team. The county also said approval by a Project Review Committee administered by the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) is required before proceeding with DB delivery.
Project cost estimates given by staff place the Waste & Recovery Center reconfiguration at roughly $20 million to $22 million before detailed design refines the budget. Staff described that range as preliminary and said schedule and costs will be refined during the design phase.
Separately, staff reported that the planned South County transfer station project — work to add drop‑box capacity in the Rainier/Rochester area — is temporarily paused. A 2021 feasibility study and a 2023 site evaluation narrowed site options, but staff said limited capital resources and a need to prioritize the primary Waste & Recovery Center reconfiguration make it impractical to pursue both projects simultaneously. Staff estimated the South County build cost at about $14 million if pursued later.
Public Works said the Waste & Recovery Center site has areas built over older waste fills that are subsiding, contributing to ongoing maintenance needs and informing the decision to concentrate new construction on more stable ground. Staff also said upgrades would allow reinstitution of electronics recycling and room for future expanded services.
Board members asked about community outreach and timing for South County; staff said community engagement occurred during the 2022 stakeholder outreach and that direct outreach to some South County communities (for example, Rainier) has not yet occurred but will continue as planning proceeds.
Staff requested the board’s continued support to proceed with consultant selection and later with the DB procurement steps; no formal board action was taken at the work session.
The county will return with procurement documents and schedule updates as design work progresses.
