King County to again offer free disposal of debris from flood damage, Dec. 2-3

As residents continue to clean up from November’s major flooding and storms, King County will again offer free disposal of storm-related debris at King County solid waste disposal facilities this weekend, Dec. 2 and 3, 2006.

"Residents affected by flooding are facing hardships enough,” said King County Executive Ron Sims. “Waiving disposal fees for residents with flood damage prevents that added financial hardship and hastens the clean-up of debris.”

The free disposal applies to residents of King County outside of the cities of Seattle and Milton, which are not part of the King County solid waste handling system. King County residents should provide acceptable proof of residence such as a current utility bill or other piece of mail containing the resident’s current address.

Only storm-related debris will be disposed at no charge; split loads of mixed storm-related debris and regular solid waste will be charged at the regular solid waste disposal rate. Storm-related debris may be inspected by Solid Waste Division staff, which reserves the right to limit quantities disposed without charge. Standard waste acceptance rules will apply (for example, computers, monitors, TVs and cell phones are not accepted at transfer stations) and all loads need to be properly secured; unsecured loads will be subject to unsecured load fees.

After King County absorbed record rain earlier this month, Sims signed an emergency proclamation to provide county agencies with the authority they need to respond as quickly as possible to the emergency conditions. The Solid Waste Division also offered free disposal of storm-related debris on Nov. 18 and 19.