Quarterly report highlight efficiencies, effectiveness of Solid Waste Division

2005 Archived News

Efficiencies are helping the King County Solid Waste Division (SWD) hold garbage rates flat through 2008.

In a quarterly report to King County Council this month, the division detailed how a rate increase expected to go into effect in 2007 can now wait until 2008. The King County utility hasn't raised its basic $82.50 per ton fee since 1999.

"Over the last year and a half, Solid Waste Division staff have worked hard to implement the ambitious 2004 Business Plan by becoming more efficient and more productive," said King County Executive Ron Sims in transmitting the report. "The savings targets have largely been met and the division is doing more work with fewer resources. Because of the success of the Business Plan, an expected increase in the basic tipping fee has been able to be pushed back another year."

The quarterly report to Council is required in the Solid Waste Omnibus Ordinance adopted by the Council in December 2003, with the purpose of outlining the financial and other effects of operational efficiencies and changes in business practices. This quarterly report covers the second quarter of 2005 and provides information about expenditures, revenues and operations of disposal facilities.

Sims said the Solid Waste Division is adjusting well to having a 24-hour operation on weekdays and to handling virtually all of the garbage generated in King County (exclusive of Seattle) through the county's transfer stations.

With garbage rates among the lowest in the region, King County serves 1.2 million customers, and handles about 1 million tons of garbage at its state-of-the-art Cedar Hills Regional Landfill each year. The county operates eight transfer stations and two drop boxes in addition to the landfill.