SHORELINE – King County leaders are proudly introducing what they call the most environmentally friendly facility of its kind in the country.

Workers at the state-of-the-art Shoreline Recycling and Transfer Station are getting the feel of new equipment and a new building.

"This facility is different than anything else we've got because of the way we built it – green -- and the way we're going to operate it," said Kevin Kiernan, King County Solid Waste director.

From above, solar panels will produce five percent of the power needed to operate the station.  Huge gutters will collect waves of rainwater that roll off the massive roof.  From the roof,  it drains down into a giant 3,800 gallon cistern.

The water is then used for air quality, feeding a system of sprinklers across the top that will provide mist to keep the dust down so nobody has to breathe it.  Industrial air filters will capture whatever dust escapes the indoor rain.

On sunny days enhanced natural light coming through the roof and walls will keep operating costs down.  And, this station is made of what it's designed to collect -- recycled materials.

"This concrete we're standing on incorporates fly ash that would have been a waste material," said Kiernan.

Old sheet metal scraps are finding new life as the station's walls.  Even the station's art is made of old tires and heavy equipment used to move garbage.

The Shoreline facility opens Saturday and will be the model for eventual replacement of all King County transfer stations.