Lewis T. Griffith, P.E., Assistant Division Manager, Environmental Services Solid Waste Management, WA
Debra Frye, P.E. Senior Vice President and HDR's National Solid Waste Technical Director, HDR Engineering, MO

The innovative, sustainable Tacoma Solid Waste Management Recovery and Transfer Center has vastly improved the handling of solid waste in the city of Tacoma, Washington. Through a creative, interactive workshop process, the City was able to evaluate different options and select the most efficient and cost effective approach for meeting future processing and diversion needs.

This webinar will show how the new center increases operational efficiency, minimizes operating and maintenance costs, improves safety, reflects state-of-the-art design, provides flexibility to meet future needs, and increases capacity to meet future waste and traffic patterns.

Located at the 190-acre Tacoma Landfill, the new $26 million, 83,590-square-foot facility is one of the largest clear-span buildings in the state of Washington. The facility handles 160,000 tons of garbage per year and is designed for peak daily loads of 1,400 tons. The facility was awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Sustainable features include natural ventilation, day lighting and lighting controls, solar panels, harvested rainwater for use in toilets and water-efficient landscaping.

This SWANA Webinar will explain how the new system consolidates the functions of multiple transfer sites into a single building, eliminating multiple handling of materials. It will also cover how the City is developing strategies for recovering cardboard, metal, wood and other recyclable materials from out of the waste stream that come through the facility.

This Excellence Award-winning facility will be the focus of an exciting SWANA Webinar that will show the ins and outs of the latest in recovery and transfer expertise.