New King County solid waste rate supports modernization of 1960’s-era transfer stations

County Council’s unanimous approval of 1-year increase from $95 to $109 per ton; King County solid waste disposal rates remain among the lowest in the region

The Metropolitan King County Council has unanimously approved a one-year disposal rate for 2012, allowing the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ Solid Waste Division to cover rising costs while modernizing a half-century-old solid waste handling system.

The average residential customer who puts out one can of garbage per week for curbside collection is likely to see an increase of about 82 cents per month in the garbage bill from their hauler to cover the new disposal fees.

Haulers that pick up garbage at the curb and self-haulers that use County solid waste transfer stations will pay the new disposal fee of $109 per ton, effective Jan. 1, 2012.  The new rate is still lower than rates in Seattle, Tacoma and Pierce County.

This is only the second solid waste rate increase in 12 years, and applies to residents of King County outside the cities of Seattle and Milton; those two cities are part of separate solid waste handling systems.

The County is modernizing its 1960s-era network of transfer stations in order to meet the needs of the residential self-haulers, businesses and garbage collection companies who use them.

The County has completed replacement or renovation at the Vashon, Enumclaw and Shoreline transfer stations, and begun construction of an expanded Bow Lake transfer station. After Bow Lake, the schedule calls for upgrades to Factoria Transfer Station. The Algona, Renton and Houghton transfer stations will be closed and two new stations built by 2018.

King County has cut $39 million in solid waste expenses over the past three years – through reduced staffing, changes to operating hours and other efficiencies – to meet an 18 percent reduction in tonnage and an accompanying decline in revenue resulting from the recession.

King County also recently extended operations at the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill by an additional seven years, delaying the high cost of exporting waste.

King County operates eight transfer stations, two drop-boxes and the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill. Learn more about the Solid Waste Division at www.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste.