Welcome to Skagit County

April 14, 2019

New Solid Waste rates in effect starting June 3

Solid Waste rates will increase on June 3, 2019, after the Board of County Commissioners gave their final approval by resolution on March 25.

The rate for general solid waste will increase from $89 per ton to $97 per ton. The minimum charge for residential waste disposal will increase from $10 for the first 200 pounds to $14 for the first 280 pounds. Customers at Clear Lake will see an increase from $6 per bag to $7 per bag. Recycling and household hazardous waste drop-off will remain free for households.

“Our rates last increased in 2010,” said Solid Waste Division Manager Margo Gillaspy. “Many people don’t know this, but the solid waste division is funded entirely by disposal and user fees. In the past nine years, our disposal and labor costs have gone up, our grant funding is uncertain, and we’re seeing an increased amount of maintenance to our transfer station equipment. This rate increase helps keep our system fiscally sustainable.”

Under the new proposed rate structure, per-ton rates will rise incrementally each year, ending in 2023. The rate for general solid waste will increase by $2 per year starting in 2020, topping out at $105 per ton. The minimum charge will also increase by $2 per year starting in 2020, topping out at $20.

Public Works assess the Solid Waste rate structure periodically to ensure that the system remains fiscally responsible. The rates were forecasted out to 2023, which is the final year of the County’s current disposal contract with Republic Services. The new Solid Waste rates were approved by the Solid Waste Advisory Committee and the Solid Waste System Governance Board before final approval by the Board of Commissioners.

Find more information about the Solid Waste division and review the rate study online at skagitcounty.net/publicworkssolidwaste. For questions or more details, please contact Margo Gillaspy at margog@co.skagit.wa.us or 360-416-1400.