The Southwest County Transfer Station has been processing Palm Beach County’s solid waste since 1985 and after 25 years of continuous operation handling more than 300,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually, it needed a serious overhaul. The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County undertook a comprehensive, three-phase renovation program to bring the facility into the modern era. Kokolakis delivered the third and final phase.
The 18-month final phase completed the transformation of the 85,000 square foot campus-style complex into a state-of-the-art, 1,500-ton-per-day transfer and recycling center on a 40-acre site along State Road 7 in Delray Beach. Engineered as a zero-discharge facility using on-site retention and treatment systems rather than traditional storm sewer connections. The scope included a 53,082 square foot two-story transfer building with six loading hoppers, a trailer load-out tunnel, three-quarter-inch steel push-wall armor plating, dust-suppression and misting systems, vehicle exhaust systems, and an elevator. A 4,680 square foot two-story administration building houses offices, a computer room configured for remote emergency operations center use, and staff support facilities. A 10,000 square foot hazardous waste storage building safely processes used oil, paint, batteries, antifreeze, and other recyclable materials through dedicated containment systems and specialized ventilation. A 15,000 square foot vehicle maintenance shop supports Authority vehicles and heavy equipment with heavy-duty lifts, 30-ton bridge cranes, and a full lubricant distribution system. Two scale-house facilities with three 70-foot-long scales, a vegetative waste processing area, and comprehensive sitewide infrastructure improvements, including stormwater, sanitary and potable water systems, fire protection, lift stations, and fuel dispensing, round out the campus. The completed facility reduced collection vehicle travel distances by approximately 2.2 million miles annually and generates an estimated $1 million in annual savings for franchise customers.
The project earned the Solid Waste Association of North America Gold Excellence Award for Transfer Stations and the American Institute of Architects Palm Beach Chapter Honor Award.
