Drafter
Clerk 08/18/2011
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AN ORDINANCE relating to solid waste fees charged at recycling and transfer facilities and at the Cedar Hills regional landfill; and amending Ordinance 12564, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 10.12.021.
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PREAMBLE:
King County has been the regional provider of solid waste services since 1988.
King County strives to keep solid waste fees as low as reasonable, while covering the costs of effectively managing the solid waste system and providing service to the residents and businesses of King County including:
a. Protecting human health and the environment;
b. Extending the life of the Cedar Hills regional landfill;
c. Renovating the nearly fifty year old urban transfer system; and
d. Maintaining reserve funds at adequate levels.
The regional provision of solid waste services benefits the region's rate payers through efficiency and economies of scale, resulting in solid waste disposal rates that are among the lowest in the region.
The county is committed to delivering effective regional solid waste services and working collaboratively with the thirty-seven participating cities to develop and implement solid waste policies.
Regional solid waste services are more cost effective and efficient if supported by long-term commitments from entities participating in the system.
Ongoing collaboration in long-range system planning is best supported by early, unambiguous and full commitment to long-term system participation by parties participating in the regional system.
Extension of the current interlocal agreements between the county and thirty-seven cities would allow for long-range system planning and lower solid waste rates to finance planned improvements.
In the absence of long-term system commitments, the county will continue to deliver quality services and will consider policies addressing capital reserves, rates, appropriate capital developments, financing of capital improvements and construction sequencing.
The 2011 rate of $95.00 per ton was intended for the three-year period of 2008, 2009 and 2010. Through expenditure reductions and system efficiencies, the county has been able to provide solid waste services without a rate increase for an additional year.
The current rate will not support the expenses of the system beyond 2011.
This measure proposes to increase the basic fee in 2012 from $95.00 to $109 per ton, projected as a one-year rate in anticipation of further revision following decisions by participating cities on whether to extend to solid waste interlocal agreements.
The impact of this proposed increase on the average residential customer with one-can collection service would be approximately $0.82 per month.
It is in the region's interest that the executive continue to work with participating cities to extend the term for the interlocal agreements to allow for long-term financing of planned capital improvements and to make other such modifications to the interlocal agreements that the parties agree to be appropriate.
It is in the region's interest that the executive and participating cities either execute extension of the interlocal agreements or determine not to enter into extensions by the end of the first quarter of 2012 so that the executive may work with participating cities to develop a multiyear rate proposal for transmittal to the council no later than July 1, 2012.
This ordinance responds to the 2011 Budget Ordinance, Ordinance 16984, Section 101, Proviso P2.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Ordinance 12564, Section 2, as amended, and K.C.C. 10.12.021 are each hereby amended as follows:
All persons using county-operated solid waste disposal facilities shall pay the service fees in the following schedules:
A. Service fees for the use of disposal sites with scales, excluding Cedar Hills, shall be:
1. Solid waste disposal:
Passenger cars $((15.31)) 17.49 per entry
Other vehicles $((95.00)) 109.00 per ton
Charitable organizations $((73.25)) 84.00 per ton
Minimum $((15.31)) 17.49 per vehicle
Charitable organizations, minimum charge $((11.69)) 13.39 per entry
2. Deposit of source-separated yard waste at yard waste collection areas, other organics at organics collections areas, clean wood at clean wood collection areas or any combination thereof:
Passenger cars $13.25 per entry
Other vehicles $82.50 per ton
Minimum charge $13.25 per vehicle
3. Deposit of white goods at white goods collection areas:
White goods without regulated refrigerants $10.00 per unit
White goods with regulated refrigerants $24.00 per unit
B. Service fees for the use of disposal sites without scales, such as mobile yard waste facilities, shall be based upon the cubic yard or fraction thereof as follows:
1. Solid waste disposal:
Passenger cars $((15.31)) 17.49 per entry
Other vehicles
Compacted wastes $((27.55)) 31.61 per cubic yard
Uncompacted wastes $((16.15)) 18.53 per cubic yard
Minimum charge $((15.31)) 17.49 per vehicle
2. Deposit of source-separated yard waste at yard waste collection areas, other organics at organics collections areas, clean wood at clean wood collection areas or any combination thereof:
Passenger cars $13.25 per entry
Other vehicles
Compacted wastes $24.00 per cubic yard
Uncompacted wastes $14.00 per cubic yard
Minimum charge $13.25 per vehicle
C. Service fees at the Cedar Hills landfill shall be:
Cedar Hills Regional Direct $((80.00)) 93.50 per ton
Other vehicles $((95.00)) 109.00 per ton
Disposal by other vehicles is at the discretion of the solid waste manager.
D. A moderate-risk waste surcharge shall be added to all solid waste disposed by nonsolid waste collection entities using county operated solid waste facilities. The fee schedule is as follows:
1. For sites with scales:
Self-haulers $((3.50)) 4.73 per ton
Minimum charge $((1.34)) 1.81 per entry
Passenger cars $((1.34)) 1.81 per entry
2. For sites without scales:
Compacted $((0.77)) 1.04 per cubic yard
Uncompacted $((0.44)) 0.59 per cubic yard
Minimum charge $((1.34)) 1.81 per entry
Passenger cars $((1.34)) 1.81 per entry
E. A special waste fee shall be charged for special waste including infectious waste treated and handled in accordance with King County Board of Health Code 10.28.070, asbestos-containing waste material, problem wastes and other additional wastes requiring clearances in accordance with King County Board of Health Code Title 10 or rules promulgated by the department.
Special waste fee $145.00 per ton
Minimum charge $23.20 per entry
F. In the absence of exact weights or measurements, the estimate of the manager is binding upon the user.
G. The division director may establish fees for handling and processing of recyclable materials for which no other fee has been established by ordinance. Consistent
with WRR-1, WRR-2, WWR-4 and WRR-36, the fees need not recover the full cost of handling and processing.
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