SOLID WASTE IN SAN JUAN COUNTY

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Solid waste tipping fees go up March 31, 2007

Story by Sharon Kivisto

posted 12/20/2006
San Juan County Council approved a 9 percent increase in solid waste tipping fees at their Dec. 19, 2006 council meeting. The increase goes into effect March 31, 2007. The last time fees were raised was April 1, 2004.

Solid Waste Manager Ed Hale explained the need for the increase. The expenses for garbage have increased 7 percent since 2004, recycling 10 percent, ferries 15 percent, labor percent, and San Juan Sanitation 11 percent. Revenue has gone up 3 percent.

During the public hearing three people spoke. Friday Harbor resident Gordy Peterson chided the council for increasing taxes and fees. Last week they imposed the stormwater parcel fee for developed parcels.

Town of Friday Harbor Administrator King Fitch asked the council to consider a lower rate for the town in consideration of the lease rate the county has. The county signed a 20-year lease for $10 per year in 1994 with the town for use of site. The county also leases another portion for $300 per month from the town.

Solid Waste Advisory Committee Chair George Post spoke about the futility of trying to run the solid waste division solely on fees since the goal is to reduce waste. The county does not charge for recycling. Tipping fees for garbage has to pay for everything from recycling to education to hazardous waste handling. Post encouraged the council to look at alternatives early next year to avoid the inevitable "death spiral". Many other municipalities either charge a parcel fee or charge for recycling.

After some debate, the councilmembers passed the fee increases as presented due to time constraints. They agreed to take a more comprehensive look in the new year.

Hearing set for Dec. 19 for 9 percent hike in solid waste tipping fees

posted 12/18/2006
San Juan County Council convened as the Solid Waste Disposal District Board will hold a public hearing at 3 p.m. Dec. 19 in the Community meeting room downstairs in the Islanders Bank Administration Building, 225 Blair St. Friday Harbor, Washington to accept testimony regarding an ordinance increasing the solid waste tipping fees.

The increases are already included in the adopted 2007 county budget. If the ordinance is not adopted by the county council, cuts will have to be made in the county budget according to county staff.

The chart belows shows the proposed fees and some of the current fees.

Hearing set for Dec. 19 for 9 percent hike in solid waste tipping fees

posted 12/05/2006
In their first split vote, the San Juan County Council voted 5 to 1 to send to public hearing an ordinance increasing Solid Waste tipping fees by 9 percent. Howie Rosenfeld who represents the Town of Friday Harbor voted against the motion. He believes the increase is needed to fund the Solid Waste program, but wanted to convey the Town's displeasure about the lack of appreciation it receives from the county.

The county leases the transfer station space from the town but does not give the town a discount on services.

SWAC suggests tax

posted 10/06/03
San Juan County’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee will ask the Board of County Commissioners to consider a property tax to cover solid waste capital expenses. Tipping fees would cover the costs of operations.

The committee members are concerned about the "death spiral" the county’s solid waste division faces. One of the goals of the Solid Waste Division is to divert more of the waste from landfills by encouraging recycling. There is no charge for recyclables, there is a charge for trash disposal. As the county becomes more successful in increasing the recycling rate, it reduces the amount of revenue received. The result is the death spiral.

One way to solve the problem is to charge for recycling. SWAC member Wally Gillettte suggested the county do so. Other committee members pointed out the need for more infrastructure and staffing to weigh the recyclables and collect the fees.

Since the existence of a solid waste operation increases the value of property, it seemed appropriate to the majority of SWAC members to charge either a per parcel fee or some other type of tax to pay for the infrastructure. By a vote of 6-1 during the Sept. 29, 2003 meeting, SWAC approved a resolution asking the BOCC to consider the tax idea.

Solutions sought for solid waste death spiral

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 01/30/03
Solid Waste Advisory Committee member George Post spoke to a group of 50 people In Eastsound Tuesday night (Jan. 23, 2003) and summed up the catch-22 facing the county's solid waste operations. "All the money comes from how much we throw away and we want to reduce waste, do you see the problem here?"

Post organized the meeting to educate islanders about the challenges the county faces. The Solid Waste Division is set up as an enterprise fund. It must generate enough revenue to cover costs. Besides a few grants, the only source of revenue is tipping fees for disposal of garbage, there are no fees for disposing of recyclables.

Revenue for capital improvements, education programs and "green" projects is not available. "As long as we are cutting back on every single cent, it is hopeless," said Post. "It is not substainable. We can’t do the things we say we want to do in these (county Solid Waste Management) plans."

Jon Shannon, who was the county Solid Waste Manager for the past two years and recently was chosen to be the new Public Works Director, said the solid waste operation had its first profit in 2001 after six years of running a deficit. "I indicated to the BOCC, if we don’t do something by the end of the year we will be going back into the red." He noted the county pays over $100,000 each year in ferry fees to haul off garbage and recyclables. In 2001 the ferry fees for commercial went up 32 percent and are projected to increase 35 percent in 2003. "Under Washington State Ferries' current plan, over a five year period the ferry rate will double."

Orcas Islander Dave Polis has been a consultant in the solid waste management field since the 70s. "I am always looking for tough problems," he said. "This is the toughest problem. The county loses money for everything we recycle." The emphasis should be on how to reuse materials and on waste reduction, he said.

Jennifer Hatch, who finds ways for large corporations to use recyclables, said, "There are several things that could be done on small scale. It is not hugely technical. There could be some innovative green type of small businesses in the islands." Grinding up paper and cardboard and converting it into blown in insulation could be a worthwhile little business, she said. One of the corporations she works with uses ground up tires to create shingles.

Other islanders suggested creating art out of waste and selling the products to tourists.

Other suggestions focused on ways to increase revenue. They ranged from charging for recycling, charging a gate fee or creating a taxing district.

San Juan County Commissioner John Evans said, "We’re like a family that just can’t quite make it month to month. If you are poor, you can’t do the neat things you would like to do." He had three suggestions.

• Do the best we can to freeze the cost of getting rid of garbage
• Either charge a gate fee, or
• charge something for recycling

By keeping a substantial difference between the fee for garbage disposal vs recycling disposal, recycling would still be encouraged, he said. "If we could cover two-thirds of the cost of recyclables, we would have all the money we would need," he said.

Orcas Island resident Bob Gamble said, "I agree with John Evans. New money has to come into the system, whether it is higher fees, fees for recycling or a tax. We need broader education of the public. We need input from citizens. Otherwise we are into a death spiral." He suggested islanders petition to place a referendum on a tax to create revenue for solid waste operations.

Post noted a survey last year of users of the Orcas Island and San Juan Island transfer stations indicated people were willing to pay for recycling. "We've never asked the people if they want to solve the problem," he said. "The purpose of this meeting was to get this issue to the people."

Shannon: more funds needed for solid waste

posted 12/06/02
The problem with the county's solid waste program is the "pay as you throw" paradox according to Solid Waste Manager Jon Shannon. Because revenue is generated only through garbage tipping fees, diversion of garbage by recycling results in less revenue. Such a system conflicts with the county's goal of promoting waste diversion. One solution is to create a solid waste disposal district. Every property owner would pay for the privilege of having the service available. This is similar to library districts and fire districts. The idea is part of the report to be presented to a joint meeting of the Board of County Commissioners and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee set for 1:45 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, 2002 in the commissioners hearing room in the county Courthouse.

While the Solid Waste Division is now able to operate in the black after years of deficits, Shannon projects a $133,000 capital shortfall in 2003. The necessary funds could be generated by raising rates, excise taxes, or the minimum fee. Or by a combination of any of those increases. Shannon recommends the BOCC:

1. Implement a cost of service/rate study in fiscal year 2003. Money has been budgeted and this task could be accomplished by mid-year 2003.
   
   
2. Create two new county solid waste accounts - a capital account and a reserve account. This can be accomplished by the Auditor with a resolution from the BOCC. It should be done prior to the fiscal year 2003 accounting year start.
   
   
3. Choose a solution to generate an additional $133,000 of capital revenue in fiscal year 2003. This should be implemented as early in fiscal year 2003 as possible.
   
   
4. Raise the fee for refrigerated appliances from $30 to $40 per unit.
   
   
5. Develop a long term rate strategy. Based on the results of the rate study and a revisiting of system finances in mid fiscal year 2003, a solid waste system fiscal strategy should be outlined to guide system finances and rates through at least fiscal year 2005.
   
   

No garbage rate increase, for now

posted 10/09/02
A tipping rate increase for garbage is not in the Solid Waste Division's 2003 proposed budget. Solid Waste Manager Jon Shannon said, "With good luck we might be able to get through next year without going into the red without increasing rates."

The budget was discussed at the Board of County Commissioners October 8, 2002 meeting. Commissioner John Evans complimented Shannon on the work he has done to turn around the solid waste division. "I'd strongly recommend, to keep that momentum going, you begin work now on evaluating the rate increase we would need (to stay in the black)."He noted it takes time to hold the hearings and notify the commercial haulers and other customers "if and when we need to adjust rates."

Commissioner Rhea Miller said, "I don't see a reason to increase rates, we got out of $100,000 in debt in a year. The garbage rates are formidable."

The county does not charge for recycling. The new system of commingled recycling allows residents to divert more waste from the garbage bins. Evans said, "The comments I'm getting is this is a boon for people. The more recycling we do with no revenue coming in, the more cost for garbage."

Shannon said the commissioners may be surprised with some of the ideas he has about options for rate increase. He had planned to present it to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee in a work session before presenting it to the BOCC.

Commissioner Nielsen said, "I hope we can avoid a rate increase, but I am very fearful about where ferry fares are headed." Shannon should present the rate increase ideas to SWAC she said.

Solid Waste to ask for tipping fee increase

posted 09/17/02
Solid Waste Manager Jon Shannon will recommend two tipping fee increases even though San Juan Solid Waste Division just began operating in the black for the first time in six years. "We barely inched into the black," he told the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) Monday, September 16, 2002. "If we don't do it (increase the fees) we will be back in the red."

Shannon will recommend an interim increase for 2003 while a rate study is conducted. He cited significant labor costs, the rise in ferry fares and the new bond debt to pay for the purchase of the Sutton Road property as the reasons the increase is needed. The county recently agreed to pay the Town of Friday Harbor $750,000 for the transfer station site.

The current fees are listed on this chart.

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