Summary

King County’s Solid Waste Division will begin a gas system improvement project at the Houghton Closed Landfill in Kirkland on June 10. Trail users north of the Taylor Ball Fields should use caution when approaching the work area, and to keep pets leashed for their safety.

Story

A gas system improvement project at King County’s Houghton Closed Landfill in Kirkland is set to begin on June 10. The work will take place on landfill property north of the Taylor Ball Fields, and on the east side of a popular walking trail close to 65^th Ave. N.E. No evening or weekend work is planned.

Neighbors and trail users may experience noise and vibration from heavy equipment, and a portion of the trail may be closed periodically during work hours to enable workers and equipment to access the work site.

King County’s Solid Waste Division is conducting the work to repair problems that were detected during routine monitoring in mid-May, when testing at one of the 33 gas probes on the landfill property showed higher than normal levels of methane. King County promptly notified health and regulatory agencies, and out of an abundance of caution, conducted free air quality testing at dozens of neighboring homes. Tests results to date show that no homes have been affected by this incident.

The Houghton Landfill closed in the 1960s, and the gas system was installed in the 1990s to comply with stricter environmental rules to manage the methane that’s produced from the decaying organic material buried there. People can learn more about King County’s closed landfills online. Those with questions about the project can call King County’s Solid Waste Division’s main office at 206-477-4466.

RELEVANT LINKS

King County Solid Waste Division Closed Landfills: https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/facilities/landfills/closed-landfills.aspx

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Annie Kolb-Nelson, 206-477-5373

About the King County Solid Waste Division

The Solid Waste Division is guided by its vision to achieve Zero Waste of Resources by 2030, and to enhance the environment through collaboration and innovation. The division operates eight transfer stations, two rural drop boxes, and the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill – the only operational landfill in the county. Our stakeholders include residents and business owners in unincorporated King County and 37 cities throughout the county. Our mission is to deliver value our customers and stakeholders, and to continuously improve waste prevention, resource recovery, and waste disposal.