Sims proposes waiver of disposal fees for flood-damaged debris, Dec. 13-16

Recognizing the hardships residents with damage from the early December flooding already face, King County Executive Ron Sims has proposed free disposal of flood-damaged debris at King County solid waste disposal facilities Dec. 13-16.

"People who have had their property damaged by flooding are already facing a big enough hardship, we don’t want to increase the hardship or delay cleanup with added costs for disposal,” said Sims.  “I have requested that King County waive disposal fees for residents with storm damage."

Sims today sent a motion to the King County Council that authorizes the temporary free disposal of flood-related debris. The council is expected to act on the motion Monday.

Once approved, the free disposal of flood-damaged items would apply 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 need to provide acceptable proof of residence such as a current utility bill or other piece of mail containing the resident’s current address. 

This program is for King County residents with flood-related debris only. Businesses will continue to be charged regular disposal fees.

Only flood-related debris will be disposed at no charge; split loads of mixed flood-related debris and regular solid waste will be charged at the regular solid waste disposal rate. Loads will be inspected by Solid Waste Division staff, who have 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 would need to be properly secured; unsecured loads will be subject to extra fees.
On Monday, Sims signed an emergency proclamation to provide county agencies with the authority they need to respond as quickly as possible to the emergency conditions. Areas in King County received more than five inches of rainfall during a two-day period ending Tuesday, contributing to significant flooding in the region.

Details on the free debris acceptance program will be available next week on the King County Solid Waste Division Web site, at http://www.metrokc.gov/dnrp/swd/ or by calling 206-296-4466, toll free, 1-800-325-6165, ext. 6-4466, TTY Relay: 711.