Recycling Route Collection Starts in September

By Stan Matthews
County Website and Communications Manager

As part of San Juan County’s transition to a new recycling and solid waste handling system, beginning September 1, San Juan Sanitation, Inc. will provide recycling pickup service in addition to garbage pickup.

San Juan Sanitation is the solid waste collection company approved for work in San Juan County by the Washington State Transportation and Utilities Commission. It has been collecting garbage in San Juan County since 1966.

Maps of the service areas for garbage and recycling pickup on San Juan, Orcas, and Lopez Islands will be available on the Public Works website within a few weeks, and County staff will be available at the County Fair in August to answer questions about the transition to the new system.

New San Juan County “Level of Service” regulations describe the route collection services that the collection company must offer:

• Recycling and garbage route collection services must be purchased in combination.
• Existing route collection customers will be automatically signed up for recycling collection starting in September.
• The basic monthly recycling service will include two 32-gallon cans (or the equivalent volume). More recyclable materials can be collected for an additional charge.
• Recycling collection will occur on the same day as garbage collection.
• Fees for services will be posted on San Juan Sanitation’s web site.

San Juan Sanitation currently offers a variety of service options ranging from one-time collection to twice a week. They accept a variety of container sizes and shapes at residences and can provide small dumpsters for larger amounts that are appropriate for neighborhoods.  Specific information about service options is available from the company at (360) 376-4709 and online at:  sanjuansani.com/.

After the first of the year, Lopez Island’s drop box and self-haul facility will be operated by a new disposal district.  The County is seeking to lease its self-haul facilities on Orcas and San Juan Islands to private interests to keep those facilities open. It is currently accepting proposals for the Orcas transfer station facility, and the request for proposals for the San Juan Island drop-box facility is now being drafted. The continued operation of those facilities depends on whether suitable bidders come forward.

Updates on the changes to the recycling and solid waste disposal system will be posted on the County’s web site.  The Public Works Department provides regular updates to email subscribers.  You can subscribe to that service at: https://sanjuanco.com/mail/optin.aspx