According to Jim Hall, chair of the planning commission, routes leading to the transfer station are regularly strewn with litter. I drive past the transfer station every day, and often see debris that obviously has blown from the back of someone's trailer or truck. Metro does a good job of regularly cleaning up the litter, Hall says, but the planning commission and Metro are hoping to educate people about tarping their loads so roadways stay clean. Metro staff routinely remind customers arriving at the transfer stations with uncovered loads about the littering problem and the requirement to have loads covered when traveling to the transfer station. Scalehouse staff can issue fines to customers with uncovered loads, and often give warnings to those who say they weren't aware of the policy.
Customers can purchase tarps from the scalehouse to use on their next trip.
However, according to Metro's regulatory affairs supervisor, Steve Kraten, some people are obviously aware of the covered-load requirement, but choose to ignore it. We see people with uncovered loads pulling off right in front of the transfer station to put on a tarp. They avoid the fine Metro might charge them at the scalehouse, but they've already let trash blow onto the roads. If you have a question about preparing for a trip to a Metro transfer station, call Metro Recycling Information at 234-3000.