No single organization can manage an island’s waste challenges alone. It takes a network of people, agencies, and programs working together to keep garbage, recycling, and special materials moving safely and responsibly. San Juan Transfer Station is one important piece …
Read moreAuthor: Carolyn Moulton
Construction & Demolition Waste: Managing Projects the Sustainable Way
Home projects are a way of life on San Juan Island. Whether it’s replacing a worn-out deck, remodeling a bathroom, putting up a small outbuilding, or finally dealing with that leaning fence, construction and demolition (C&D) projects are part of …
Read moreE-Waste & Electronics Recycling: Turning Tech Turnover into an Opportunity
Look around your home and you’ll probably find more electronics than you realize: laptops, tablets, old phones in drawers, headphones that no longer work, a retired TV in the spare room, maybe a printer that jammed one too many times. …
Read moreOutreach & Education: Building a “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Culture on San Juan Island
A strong waste and recycling system doesn’t start at the transfer station gate; it starts in our homes, schools, and businesses. The decisions we make about what to buy, how to store things, and where to put them when we’re …
Read moreSustaining Recycling Markets: Why Quality Sorting Matters on an Island
Most of us know that recycling is “good,” but fewer of us see what happens after our bottles, cans, and cardboard leave our hands. Behind the scenes, recycling works only when there is a market for the materials — companies …
Read moreIsland Waste & Recycling in the Off-Peak Tourism Season
When summer ferries are full and visitors are everywhere, it’s easy to see the impact tourism has on waste and recycling systems. Bins fill up faster, cardboard from shipments piles higher, and traffic at San Juan Transfer Station can be …
Read moreCommunity Recycling Challenges: Reduced Daylight & Planning Around Transfer Station Hours
On San Juan Island, our relationship with daylight is always changing. Summer evenings seem to stretch on forever, while winter days feel short and precious. Those seasonal shifts, combined with the specific operating hours of San Juan Transfer Station, create …
Read moreWinter Maintenance & Appliance Disposal: Old Furnaces, Heaters, and Freezers
Winter is when our homes have to work the hardest. Heating systems run longer, freezers stay full of stored food, and older appliances often reveal their age when temperatures drop. For many households on San Juan Island, this is the …
Read moreSafe Disposal of Hazardous Household Items Before Freezing Weather
As fall turns to winter on San Juan Island, most of us shift into “weather-proofing” mode. We check pipes, bring plants indoors, and make sure vehicles are ready for colder temperatures. It’s also the perfect time to take a hard …
Read moreHoliday Waste Surge: Managing Packaging, Gift Wrap, Cardboard & Recycling Overload
The holidays are a special time on San Juan Island: family visits, festive meals, online orders arriving on the ferry, and cozy gatherings at home. But along with all that celebration comes something less festive — a big surge in …
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