LeMay is set to open its new multimillion-dollar transfer station behind the National Guard armory on Clemons Road North, just west of Montesano.

The first day of operation for the new station is Aug. 1 at 29 Gavett Lane.

Services moving to the new location include garbage, recycling and electronic waste drop-off. The main office and hazardous waste disposal will remain at the current transfer station, at 4201 Olympic Highway in Aberdeen.

“The main thing that we looked at in this new facility was keeping the public and commercial traffic separated,” said Roger Swalander, site manager for LeMay’s Grays Harbor.

The scale at the current transfer station will be moved after the new facility opens Aug. 1. Swalander says it will take about a month to move the scale into the new facility. During that time, both public and commercial traffic will use the same scale.

“Traffic flow was not adequate at the old station, he said. But the flow should be better at the new station because it is not on the highway.

Care also was taken in the design of the 12,000-square-foot building, where trash will be deposited, and how the station would impact nearby landowners.

“We’re very conscious of the neighbors’ concerns about wind-blown debris, noise,” Swalander said. “Nobody wants a transfer station in their backyard. We can close a couple doors to keep things from blowing around. The building also keeps the rainwater out of the garbage.”

The building has eight 26-foot-tall by 22-foot-wide garage-style doors (four on both the public and commercial sides) for traffic to come through. If somebody needs to drop off something taller then 26 feet, Swalander says, then they have a plan for that.

The same number of people should still be working at the station, about five to seven at any time.

LeMay Grays Harbor Transfer Station

The new Grays Harbor County transfer station will open Aug. 1 in East County. On that day, the old transfer station in Aberdeen will only take hazardous waste. All garbage, recycling and electronic waste will be dropped off at the new location.

Transfer station: 29 Gavett Lane in Montesano.

Offices and hazardous waste: 4201 Olympic Highway, Aberdeen.

Hours: Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Phone: 360-533-1251

Website: graysharbor.lemayinc.com

Photos by Michael Lang | Grays Harbor News Group LeMay’s Grays Harbor Transfer Station nears completion Friday, July 12, at 29 Gavett Lane west of Montesano. The station opens Aug. 1 near the National Guard Armory on Clemons Road. At the left are the public scales, at the right is the structure that will cover the recycling receptacles.