Laserfiche WebLink
<br />2020 Solid Waste and Moderate <br />Risk Waste Management Plan Update <br /> <br />5-2 AX0304191054PDX <br />5.2.2 County Authority <br />The rights of the County, in terms of solid waste collection, includes the establishment of solid waste <br />collection districts for the mandatory collection of solid waste (Chapter 36.58.100 RCW). However, solid <br />waste collection districts cannot include incorporated areas without the consent of the legislative authority <br />of the city or town. To form a solid waste collection district, public hearings must be held and the County <br />legislative authority must determine that mandatory collection is in the public interest. County provision of <br />collection services can be implemented only if the WUTC notifies the County that no qualified haulers are <br />available for a district. Under mandatory collection, a hauler may request that the County collect fees from <br />delinquent customers. <br />In Kittitas County, all unincorporated areas are covered by a single WUTC certificate holder; there are no <br />solid waste collection districts. Although County authority to collect garbage in the unincorporated areas is <br />limited, counties have the legal authority to assess fees on collection services provided in those areas. <br />Chapter 36.58.045 RCW authorizes counties to assess such fees to fund administration and planning <br />expenses associated with solid waste management. <br />5.2.3 Municipal Authority <br />Cities and towns have several options for managing solid waste collection under state law, including: <br /> The city may choose not to manage or regulate its own garbage collection services. Collection <br />services may then be provided by the certificate hauler(s) with authority for that area under the <br />regulation of WUTC. <br /> The city may require a private company to obtain a garbage collection license from the city and to <br />conform to all city collection guidelines. <br /> The city may award contracts to private companies for garbage collection in all or part of the city. The <br />contract hauler does not need to hold a WUTC certificate for that area. Usually contracts are awarded <br />on a competitive basis to the lowest bidder. All requirements contained in RCW 35.01.160 apply <br />when contracting for solid waste collection services. <br /> The city may decide to manage and maintain its own municipal collection system for all or part of its <br />jurisdiction. <br /> The WUTC would not have jurisdiction over the last two options (Chapter 81.77.020 RCW). State law <br />also allows municipalities to require residents and businesses to subscribe to designated garbage <br />collection services. <br /> In 2009, Ecology adopted rules (173-345 WAC) affecting transporters of recyclable materials and <br />recycling facilities. The rule requires transporters of recyclable material to register with Ecology, <br />transport recyclable materials to material recovery facilities and locations where recycling occurs and <br />keep records of all activities for two years. In addition, this new rule requires material recovery <br />facilities and recycling facilities to notify Ecology 30 days before the facilities start operations. <br />None of the municipalities in the County maintain a municipal collection operation; all currently contract <br />for services. <br />5.3 Existing Collection Services <br />5.3.1 Unincorporated Kittitas County <br />Garbage collection service in the unincorporated portions of Kittitas County is voluntary. All areas of the <br />County are under a certificate granted by the WUTC. Rates for these areas are approved by the WUTC. <br />One hauler is certificated by the WUTC for the County: Waste Management of Washington d.b.a. Waste <br />Management of Ellensburg (G-237) (local address: 607 N. Railroad Ave. Ellensburg, WA 98926). A copy <br />of the service area map is included as Appendix D.