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SUBJECTS › PUBLIC WORKS › Solid Waste Collection
Updated 02/08

Solid Waste Collection, Recycling and Disposal

Contents

Introduction

In RCW 70.95.020,  the Washington State Legislature notes:

"The purpose of this chapter [70.95 RCW] is to establish a comprehensive statewide program for solid waste handling, and solid waste recovery and/or recycling which will prevent land, air, and water pollution and conserve the natural, economic, and energy resources of this state. To this end it is the purpose of this chapter:
(1) To assign primary responsibility for adequate solid waste handling to local government, reserving to the state, however, those functions necessary to assure effective programs throughout the state;
(2) To provide for adequate planning for solid waste handling by local government;  ......"

While Washington cities and counties have primary responsibility for managing solid waste collection and disposal, they are not required to directly provide those services [RCW 35.21.120 & RCW 35.21.130 and RCW 36.58.040].  The statutes also do not mandate that all residents and businesses have their trash collected by a public or private hauler.

The Washington State Department of Ecology prepares an Annual Solid Waste Status Report as part of its to monitor progress toward the statewide purposes and goals of Chapter 70.95 RCW and to adopt rules establishing minimum functional standards for solid waste handling.  Further, RCW 70.95.080 requires each county within the state, in cooperation with the various cities located within such county, to prepare a coordinated, comprehensive solid waste management plan.  The statute encourages joint solid waste planning between and among adjoining cities and counties.

Washington State Statutes

  • RCW 35.21.120 -- 35.21.158 - Solid Waste Disposal (Cities and Towns)
  • RCW 35.92.020 - Authority for cities to acquire and operate solid waste systems and facilities.
  • RCW 35A.21.060 - Garbage ordinance--Lien--Foreclosure.
  • RCW 35A.14.900 - Cancellation, acquisition of franchise or permit for operation of public service business in territory annexed--Regulation of solid waste collection.
  • RCW 35.13.280 - Cancellation, acquisition of franchise or permit for operation of public service in territory annexed--Regulation of solid waste collection.
  • RCW 35.02.160 - Cancellation, acquisition of franchise or permit for operation of public service in territory annexed--Regulation of solid waste collection.
  • RCW 35A.21.152 - Solid waste collection--Rate increase notice.
  • RCW 35A.21.153 - Solid waste collection curbside recycling--Reduced rate.
  • Ch. 70.95 RCW- Solid Waste Management Reduction and Recycling
  • Ch. 81.77 RCW - Solid Waste Collection Companies
  • Ch. 36.58 RCW - Solid Waste Disposal (Counties)
  • Ch. 36.58A RCW - Solid Waste Collection Districts

Solid Waste Collection and Recycling

Service Options  - Cities and counties have the following options with regard to solid waste collection (including recycling):

WUTC Sets Rates and Service Area  - If a municipality does not provide collection service or contract for such service, the WUTC sets the service area and rates for private firms that may wish to serve the municipality. In case of an annexation, a city is required to grant a franchise to the WUTC-regulated solid waste collector that serves the area annexed for a period of seven years after it notifies the WUTC of its intent to provide or regulate collection services inside the city. (RCW 35.02.160)

Municipality Collection Service and Billings - Municipality provides municipal collection service and billings. Sample municipal code sections include:

Municipality Contracts with Another Municipality - Under the Washington State Interlocal Cooperation Act, Chapter 39.34 RCW, the municipality can contract with another local agency, city or county for solid waste collection services. Only very small cities (Krupp, Nespelem, as examples) are using this option.

Municipality Contracts with Private Firm with Municipality Controlling Billings and Rates - Municipality contracts with waste hauler for collection and recycling services, but continues to do billings and control rates. Sample code provisions and/or contracts include:

Municipality Contracts with Private Firm with Municipality Only Controlling Rates - Municipality contracts with waste hauler for collection and recycling services, waste hauler does billings, but the Municipality controls rates. Sample code provisions include: (See sample contracts also)

  • Kent Municipal Code  Chapter 7.03 - Solid Waste, Recyclable Materials and Yard Waste 
  • Kirkland Municipal Code  Title 16 - Refuse and Garbage
  • Montesano Municipal Code Chapter 6.04  ( 60 KB)- Municipal Solid Waste Department
  • Vancouver Municipal Code  Chapter 6.12 - Garbage Disposal

Municipality Licenses or Franchises Private Firm  - Municipality grants franchise or license to a waste hauler or haulers, with WUTC control over rates and billings. Sample code provisions and/or licenses/franchises include:

  • Des Moines Municipal Code Chapter 7.08 - Solid Waste Disposal and Collection
  • Ocean Shores Municipal Code  Chapter 8.06 - Solid Waste Collection and Recycling
  • Pullman Municipal Code  Chapter 5.40 - Solid Waste Collection and Removal

Sample Contracts for Garbage and Recycling

  • Battle Ground, WA (Adobe Acrobat Document 5,941 KB) - Multifamily recyclables collection contract.
  • Chehalis, WA (Adobe Acrobat Document 88 KB) - Agreement for Collection and Disposal of Solid Waste between City of Chehalis and Waste Connections of Washington, Inc.(5/03)
  • Des Moines,WA (Adobe Acrobat Document 2,351 KB) - Exclusive License for the collection of solid waste granted by the City of Des Moines to Sea-Tac Disposal Company
  • Des Moines,WA - Short form contract for material recycling
  • East Wenatchee, WA (Adobe Acrobat Document 1,928 KB) - Agreement between the City of Wenatchee and Washington Waste Hauling and Recycling, Inc. (1/97)
  • Kirkland, WA (Adobe Acrobat Document 3,906 KB) - Agreement between the City of Kirkland and Washington Waste Hauling and Recycling, Inc.
  • Monroe, WA (Adobe Acrobat Document 2,683 KB) - Garbage Collection Contract between private contractor and city.
  • Port Townsend, WA (Adobe Acrobat Document 4.05 MB) - Contract between the City of Port Townsend and Superior Refuse Removal, Inc. (1997).

Recycling, Biosolids and Composting

Recycling

The Washington State Department of Ecology has an extensive set of Web pages on recycling, starting with:

Seattle Public Utilities Recycling - City of Seattle has a mandatory recycling program.  Recyclable items are not allowed in the garbage after January 1, 2005. Enforcement started January 1, 2006. 

Biosolids - MRSC Web pages on biosolids, which are sewage sludge resulting from wastewater treatment processes that can be beneficially recycled.

Composting

  • Composting Facility Standards (WAC 173-350-220) - Washington State Department of Ecology  These standards include: Exemption categories (identifying those operations that do not need solid waste handling permits; Design and operating standards for permitted facilities; Compost quality testing requirements.
  • Washington Organic Recycling Council (WORC) - A membership organization dedicated to the support and promotion of all aspects of organics recycling.
  • Composting - King County Solid Waste Division - Good information on home composting, including purchase of compost bins at a reduced cost.
  • Composts and Nutrient Management t - Washington State University (WSU) - Access to current research for home and agricultural composting.

Solid Waste Disposal

County Solid Waste Profiles - Department of Ecology - Using 2001 and 2002 data, these county profiles provide a snapshot of each county in Washington State. Information in the profiles includes: demographics, cities and their population, contact names, budget information (if available), Coordinated Prevention Grant (CPG) funding, status of local solid waste and moderate risk waste plans, a list of major solid waste activities, county priorities, solid waste infrastructure, permitted solid waste carriers, diversion, recycling, composting, moderate risk waste and solid waste disposal numbers, biosolids and litter collection efforts for the individual counties.

Annual Solid Waste Status Report (DOE) - Each year the Solid Waste & Financial Assistance Program (SW&FAP) compiles an annual report of various solid waste activities in the state.

Waste-to Energy  - Waste to energy is a term applied to a number of existing and emerging technologies that produce electricity from solid wastes and that result in vastly reduced volumes of solid wastes to be landfilled.  MRSC's  Biomass Web page provides links to a number of sites with information about these technologies.

County-Wide Solid Waste Plans - Procedures for developing solid waste plans are found in Guidelines for the Development of Local Solid Waste Management Plans and Plan Revisions, June 1999, Publication No. 90-502 (revised). (DOE)

Additional Information