By Scott Rasmussen

County reporter

It could be three years or more before steel or scrap metal are recycled again at the solid-waste transfer station on San Juan Island, according to Steve Alexander, manager of the solid-waste division of county Public Works.

That’s the earliest, Alexander said, that construction of a new solid-waste transfer station or remodel of the current Sutton Road site would be far enough along the service to be revived. In the meantime, he said, steel and scrap metal can be recycled at the transfer stations either on Orcas or Lopez islands, at the headquarters of San Juan Sanitation on Orcas or at a private non-profit on San Juan as well.

Despite recent complaints, the County Council last week opted against reinstating the service after pressing Public Works officials for an explanation as to how and why the service was suspended.

“This thing just sort of vanished,” said Councilman Rich Peterson, North San Juan. Peterson said the council, or in this case the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, should be consulted before a department discontinues a public service.

Public Works Director Jon Shannon said the department was forced to forego collecting scrap metal and steel more than a year ago because of a combination of factors. He said space constraints, safety concerns and restrictions placed on operations after the tipping floor cover was torn down all added into the decision.

Most importantly, Shannon said, the site lacks sufficient space for a dedicated spot for recycling steel and the department lacks enough resources to put more personnel at the site. Though temporary, he said the elimination of steel recycling is the most cost-efficient step in operating under the current set of constraints.

Historically, Alexander added, steel and scrap metal represent about 1 percent of the total volume of trash and recycling collected by the department. But lately that percentage has dropped as the market and price for recycled steel have grown.

“There’s been a 75 percent reduction in recycled metal collected on Orcas,” he said.

Currently, five locations, including Sutton Road, are under review as potential sites of either a new, rejuvenated and expanded transfer station. An analysis of each of the five sites is expected to be available for public review and comment by July, but, according to Alexander, the council is not expected to select a site until sometime early next year. Blueprints and plans would then need to be developed, he added.

“That’s just the beginning,” he said. “I wouldn’t expect a fully-operating facility until 2011.”