The Exchange To Close Temporarily
Published 1:30 am Saturday, March 14, 2020
Following the lead of Governor Inslee and the Orcas School District, Orcas Recycling Services (ORS) has decided to close The Exchange reuse store due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
The Exchange will be closed for drop-offs and shopping beginning Saturday, March 14, and will remain closed for an undetermined length of time.
Currently, there are no plans to close the garbage and recycling side of operations at the Transfer Station. Hours will remain the same, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Thursday to Monday, closed Tuesday and Wednesday. This is subject to change, depending on developing circumstances.
ORS asks that during this time customers please do not drop off Exchange items outside the store.
“All of us at ORS—Board and staff—pretty much agreed that if the Schools closed, we should follow suit, and we have,” says Pete Moe, executive director of ORS. “That being said, to interrupt the flow of garbage and recycling could cause a health crisis of its own. While we may need to make changes on that side of the business to protect our employees and the public, we intend to keep the solid waste moving to the best of our abilities.”
Any further changes to service at the Orcas Transfer Station will be quickly reported via our website www.exchangeorcas.org our e-mail list www.exchangeorcas.org/newsletter-signup and social media outlets.
Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange is a community-driven 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission to: “Build a zero-waste community through service, education, and stewardship of our waste/resource stream.” Orcas Recycling Services/The Exchange has been in operation since 1983, managing the Orcas Island Transfer Station since September 2013, and operating a new Exchange reuse store since November 2017. For more information, visit www.exchangeorcas.org.
