Plain-language summary
Metro picks larger design for new Cornelius garbage and recycling drop-off site
Metro plans a new drop-off site in Cornelius where people and small businesses can bring household hazardous waste, recycling, reusable items and garbage. The council chose the larger 7-acre design, called Option B, which has more space for reuse, community events, green space and future growth. A small temporary site for household hazardous waste would open first while the permanent depot is designed.
Decision: Passed, 6 to 1. Mary Nolan voted no.
Who it affects: Washington County residents and small businesses, with the share of county residents within a 20-minute drive of a full-service depot expected to rise from 5% to 40% when the depot is finished.
Money: The larger design is estimated at about $23 million to build, compared with about $17 million for the smaller option. The temporary hazardous waste site is estimated at about $3 million, paid from Metro waste revenues and reserves. Staff expect to pay for the permanent depot with revenue bonds (borrowed money repaid from fees), but this vote does not approve borrowing or construction.
Next: Staff will continue design and engineering and update the council from time to time. Final design, cost, borrowing and construction need later council votes. The City of Cornelius Planning Commission must also approve land use permits after a public hearing.
Official record
Written by AI from the official record and checked automatically. October 1, 2026
Full text
Page 1 Resolution No. 26-5646
BEFORE THE METRO COUNCIL
FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADVANCING
PLANNING AND DESIGN OF METRO WEST
COMMUNITY DROP-OFF DEPOT AND
ENDORSING OPTION B, OPTIMIZED DEPOT
CONCEPT
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RESOLUTION NO. 26-5646
Introduced by Chief Operating Officer
Marissa Madrigal in concurrence with
Council President Juan Carlos González
WHEREAS, in March 2019 the Metro Council adopted the 2030 Regional Waste Plan, which is
the long-range blueprint for building a healthier, more resilient and equitable garbage and recycling
system (Ordinance No. 19-1431); and
WHEREAS, the 2030 Regional Waste Plan sets goals and policies for the region to reduce the
amount of waste the region generates, promote greater reuse and recycling of items, and manage the
waste that is left over in a manner that protects the environment and public health; and
WHEREAS, in March 2025 the Metro Council adopted the Regional System Facilities Plan to
provide a 20-year blueprint for future reuse, recycling, composting and garbage facility and service
investments across the region that align with Metro Council’s priorities of increasing access to facilities,
reducing waste to landfill and keeping costs affordable; and
WHEREAS, one of the main investment areas in the Regional System Facilities Plan is to
develop a network of six community drop-off depots that will be accessible and conveniently located
across the region for residents and small businesses to drop off materials for reuse, recycling, household
hazardous waste, and self-haul garbage; and
WHEREAS, there is a longstanding, documented gap in Washington County for public garbage
and recycling services, especially for the collection of household hazardous waste, and to address this gap
Metro purchased a 12-acre site in the city of Cornelius’ Industrial District in 2021; and
WHEREAS, developing a depot on the site in Cornelius is one part of a broader strategy that
includes a future Southeast Washington County depot in Washington County, as well as four other depots
across the region, that together are intended to create a more distributed and resilient network that
improves access across the county and the region; and
WHEREAS, on September 22, 2026, staff from Waste Prevention and Environmental Services
presented conceptual plans and a recommendation to develop the site in Cornelius in two phases, starting
with an interim depot to collect household hazardous waste, followed by a permanent depot to collect
reuse, recycling, household hazardous waste and self-haul garbage (“Metro West”); and
WHEREAS, when Metro West is fully built and operating, it will increase the percentage of
Washington County residents within a 20-minute drive to the nearest full-service depot from 5% to 40%,
increasing access for more than 120,000 residents; and
WHEREAS, staff presented two different-sized permanent depot concepts, including a smaller
design (“Option A, Compact Depot”) and a larger design (“Option B, Optimized Depot”) and reviewed
the differences between the two concepts including cost, design, community amenities and community
programming; and
Page 2 Resolution No. 26-5646
WHEREAS, because Option B, Optimized Depot better addresses operational needs, has
flexibility to accommodate changing material markets, has space for future growth, and has triple the
space for community programming and green space; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the Metro Council hereby endorses Option B, Optimized Depot Concept
within the “Cornelius Community Drop-Off Depot Pre-Design Report (2026),” the Executive Summary
to which is attached as Exhibit A to this Resolution, and directs the Metro Chief Operating Officer to
continue to advance the planning and design of the Metro West Community Drop-Off Depot and to
periodically update the Metro Council on Metro West.
ADOPTED by the Metro Council this 1st day of October 2026.
Juan Carlos González, Council President
Approved as to Form:
Carrie MacLaren, Metro Attorney
