By Stan Matthews
County Website and Communications Manager
On November 8th, voters in San Juan County will choose between two alternative ways of providing and funding recycling and solid waste disposal services. The County Council formally agreed this week to forward the choice to the voters.
County Council Solid Waste Subcommittee Chair Patty Miller noted that both alternatives would change the current solid waste system because, “The economics of the current system have failed.”
The amount of solid waste brought to San Juan County waste facilities has declined each year since 2007. The reasons for the decline are not entirely clear, but nationally, decreases in solid waste volume have been attributed to the economic recession that has slowed construction, reduced the cash available for discretionary purchases, and – in some part – to a stronger participation in reuse and recycle programs.
Adding to the decline here, increases in fees charged at County solid waste facilities caused the Town of Friday Harbor to pull out of the County system and haul its garbage directly to the mainland.
San Juan County has unique challenges in handling solid waste because it is comprised of islands, only some of which are served by ferries. For several decades, the County has addressed those challenges by servicing its communities through solid waste facilities on each of its three largest islands. Each of these facilities has substantial fixed costs for maintaining infrastructure and staff. Mainland communities, whose waste systems have a similar or even much larger customer base, are able to provide service with a single facility.
Reductions in the volume of garbage here have created a critical situation because the solid waste program relies almost entirely on income from fees based on the weight or volume of the waste brought to its facilities. For many years this revenue was sufficient to cover costs.
Now, because of the declining volume of waste and increasing costs for state-mandated capital improvements, the economics of the system have failed. In the past three years, despite cuts in staff and service hours, the system’s expenditures have exceeded revenue by more than $1 million. In March 2011, the Council agreed to prepare a ballot measure that would give the citizens of San Juan County a choice of how solid waste services will be delivered and paid for.
The alternative that will appear on the November 8th ballot has been dubbed, “Plan A.” It would maintain the current three-facility system and reinstate some services historically provided to the outer islands. It would be financed, in part, by a new annual charge on developed property, along with reduced tipping fees for both garbage and recycling and a “gate” fee at County solid waste facilities. The Council will regard a no vote on Plan A as a vote in favor of Plan B.
Under Plan B, the system would continue to operate with volume-based revenue, primarily with “roadside” collection of garbage and recycling by a certified hauler. The Council has agreed to make County facilities available for lease to a private enterprise if one wanted to provide drop off services.
Solid Waste Subcommittee Chair Miller commented, “The solution that would work best for each household will depend on how you individually manage your waste. For some citizens Plan A will result in a lower cost and services more aligned with your needs. Other citizens may judge Plan B to be the system of choice. Both options will achieve the primary goal of ensuring a reliable means of disposing of our waste and recyclables. The Council is asking voters to decide which system is most closely aligned with their values and needs environmentally, economically and for convenience.”
Over the course of the next few weeks, the County will publish a series of articles and news releases that explain the advantages and disadvantages of each program in detail. Additionally some council members will host Town Hall meetings on the various islands in September and October to answer further questions.
The County Council urges voters to read the articles, attend the public meetings and cast an informed vote in November.
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I encourage everyone to watch the County Council meetings on video streaming at the County web site. So looks to me like Plan A is financed by a property fee on most developed parcels. The standard fee will be $100 per year for a residence. If you have a guest house it would be more. Some Commercial people would pay by square footage and/or rooms for rent ect.
So how is plan B financed and who will do it you ask. Stan says that the county facilities would be available for lease to a private enterprise if one wanted to provide drop off services. At the County Council meeting San Juan Sanitation stated they would like to take over the facilities (later stated the facilities on Orcas and San Juan). On Lopez Island the Port of Lopez has already submitted a request to operate the Lopez Drop Box facility to the County Council. So plan B is for mostly curbside pick up with private people running the County Drop Off Facilities. The County still needs money to pay for past debts and monitoring the Orcas land fill and capital improvements mostly on San Juan. So the County would raise money through an excise tax on the gross tipping fee. The amount of the excise tax was not confirmed but 20% was discussed. So if you were charged $20 for your cans of garbage then you would pay an additional tax of $4 that would go to the County. I am looking forward to the up coming election and the debate that will happen. I am excited for Lopez Island in the quest for local control. I can only imagine on Lopez dumping garbage at a locally controlled facility for a reasonable fee, free self separated recycling (real recycling), and a good free reuse facility (Take it or Leave it). Imagine nothing, I am going to work to make it a reality.
I thank Stan Matthews for his informative discription of our solid waste problems and outline of Plan “A” and Plan “B”. As I read the outline of Plan “A” we will be paying three times when we visit the transfer facility. (1)An annual charge for propety owners. (2) A gate fee (what that is, is not explained) (3) A tipping fee (reduced). I look forward to a more detailed explaination of the fee schedule for Plan “A”. Thanks again.
The most equitable manner of financing waste disposal would be to impose a tax on every purchase via sales taxes. Every human consumes stuff. Consumption creates waste. Every consumer should pay for handling the waste created. A small addition to sales taxes is the fairest method as opposed to asking property owners once again to pony-up for everyones bill.
This method allows the dump and recycle center to remain open….. and “free” for all users.
This method would end the necessity of placing ubiquitous chains and padlocks on dumpsters and trash cans throughout the island.
This method reduces discarding waste along the road in order to avoid transfer-station fees.
This method reduces the propensity to burn trash to avoid dump fees.
Bottom-line this method is self-funding…. buy, pay, consume = waste paid for, in advance. Tourists, pay, visitors pay, residents, pay. Everyone pays for what they consume and the waste they create.