King County's Solid Waste Division meets cost savings and customer service goals

2005 Archived News

After a year of transformation that included meeting a savings target of $9.43 million, adjusting operating hours and refocusing its recycling programs, King County's Solid Waste Division still earns top satisfaction ratings from its customers. Nearly every aspect of its business changed during 2004 in an effort to meet the savings target set by King County Executive Ron Sims, improve customer service and reduce the amount of reusable resources in the waste stream.

In 2004 as a result of a change in its rate structure, the division began handling 30 percent more tonnage at its transfer stations and changed operating hours to accommodate the extra tonnage from commercial haulers.

'It is a tribute to Solid Waste Division employees that the results of our customer satisfaction survey showed no drop in the ratings of our service,' said Division Manager, Theresa Jennings. 'It remained at 4.5 out of 5 on the satisfaction scale.'

King County is following a new Zero Waste of Resources policy as a way to prolong the life of the landfill and keep rates down. Sixty percent of materials currently disposed are recyclable and have value. The division has refocused its recycling programs to concentrate on the materials that represent the greatest percentage of reusable materials going into the landfill. These materials include electronics, food waste, mercury, yard waste, wood, metals and recyclable paper. The county-created Take It Back Network, a group of businesses that recycle electronics, supports the division's focus on electronics and recycled 60,000 computer monitors, 37,000 computers and 7,200 televisions in 2003 and 2004.

Responding to incredible customer demand, the Factoria Household Hazardous Waste Shed pilot project was made a permanent service. In 2004 it served more than 13,000 customers and collected 500 tons of waste. Additionally, the Wastemobile, the county's mobile hazardous waste collection unit, use increased 10 percent with nearly 17,000 customers at 28 events throughout the county served.

Further details on the division's achievements are available in its 2004 annual report online at: http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/about/documents.asp.