Solid Waste Disposal Now: An Island-By-Island Review

By Brian Rader, San Juan County Pollution Prevention Specialist 

Change is underway with solid waste collection in San Juan County. As the county transitions out of day-to-day operations of the solid waste facilities, what does that mean to you? How can you get rid of your trash in a responsible manner? How can we all continue to recycle aggressively and reduce the amount of trash that we send to mainland landfills?

Curbside trash and recycling now available
On San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw Islands, curbside trash and recycling collection is available through San Juan Sanitation. For information on rates, please contact them directly (376-4709) or visit their website: https://sanjuansani.com/

San Juan Island
You can still self-haul trash and recycling to the county-managed solid waste facility on Sutton Road, Friday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Recycling continues to be co-mingled. The fee schedule for trash and recycling disposal is available on the county website: sanjuanco.com/publicworks/solid_waste/solid_waste_docs/SW_Fees

Longer term changes for San Juan Island are still in the works. This site will continue to operate as a drop box facility while Kentec USA explores the viability of developing and operating an on-site waste-to-energy gasification plant. Kentec USA is partnering with Lautenbach Industries to continue service while studying the feasibility of the waste-to-energy facility. Public Works anticipates the Kentec/Lautenbach partnership will take over operations in April 2013.

Orcas Island
You can still self-haul trash and recycling to the county-managed solid waste facility on Orcas Road, Friday through Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm. Recycling continues to be co-mingled. The fee schedule for trash and recycling disposal is available on the county website: sanjuanco.com/publicworks/solid_waste/solid_waste_docs/SW_Fees

Orcas Recycling Services (ORS) is negotiating with San Juan County to operate the transfer station and drop box facilities on Orcas Island. ORS plans to continue and improve operations at the Exchange, as well. Public Works anticipates ORS will take over operations in April 2013.

Lopez Island
The citizens of Lopez approved a solid waste property tax to support the operation of the Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District (LSWDD) in the November 2012 election. The measure imposed a one-year property tax increase of 9.514 cents per $1000 of assessed value. On January 1, 2013, LSWDD assumed operation of the Lopez solid waste facility on Fisherman Bay Road. Operating hours, available services, recycling guidelines and a fee schedule can be found on the LSWDD website: lopezsolidwaste.org.

Other News
Sam Gibboney joins the staff at San Juan County Public Works as the new Solid Waste Program Administrator. Sam is excited about completing the transition of the solid waste program early this year and working with the new site operators to ensure that the public is well served. She is also eager to implement the County’s new Solid and Hazardous Waste Plan in achieving key goals like waste reduction and product stewardship. You can reach her at samg@sanjuanco.com.