June 6 is 'Secure Your Load Day' 

In recognition of “Secure Your Load Day” King County’s Solid Waste Division is encouraging all residents to take the time to properly secure their loads to improve road safety, avoid fees, and prevent litter. 

“Secure Your Load Day” is a national effort championed by King County resident Robin Abel, whose daughter was severely injured by an unsecured load.

“Even though the dangers of an unsecured load seem obvious, every year we see thousands of people showing up at our transfer stations and drop boxes with improperly secured loads,” said Solid Waste Division Director Pat McLaughlin. “State law requires our employees to charge a fee to anyone who arrives with an unsecured load.”

The fee of $25 is strictly enforced at all King County Solid Waste Division transfer stations and drop boxes, and there are no exceptions. If you see a dangerously unsecured load call 911 immediately.  

A recent study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that road debris contributes to more than 50,000 traffic crashes every year in the U.S. Of those crashes, 125 people lost their lives. The study also reported that about two-thirds of debris-related crashes are the results of unsecured loads and improper maintenance.

It only takes a few minutes for motorists to properly secure their loads and prevent auto crashes, injuries, and deaths. Even if a person is traveling a short distance at low speeds, all loads transported on every roadway must be secured. 

For more information about securing your load, visit the King County Solid Waste Division’s website at www.kingcounty.gov/secure-your-load.

New Factoria Recycling and Transfer Station will offer recycling services 

The new Factoria Recycling and Transfer Station is scheduled to be completely operational in late 2017. Having a new and more modern station means the Solid Waste Division will be able to offer recycling services for a variety of materials. 

Once the station is fully operational in late 2017, the Solid Waste Division will begin offering recycling services for the following materials: 

● Commingled Recyclables: Cardboard; paper; glass bottles and jars; aluminum and steel cans; plastic containers; and lids larger than 3 inches in diameter 

● Mercury-containing Light bulbs and tubes

● Scrap Metal 

● Textiles 

● Major Appliances, refrigerant and non-refrigerant (fees apply): Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, stoves, washers, and dryers   

● Wood (fees apply)

● Yard waste (fees apply) 

The Solid Waste Division is also conducting studies and pilot programs to determine if other recycling services can be brought to the station. 

For more information about the new Factoria Recycling and Transfer Station, visit the project website here: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/facilities/factoria-replacement-project.asp

Upcoming briefings on Comp Plan

The most important document the Solid Waste Division produces is the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (Comp Plan). 

This plan covers all facets of the Solid Waste Division, outlining how the division will handle the county's solid waste for at least the next six years, although it looks as far out as 20 years. 

From setting long-term goals like reaching a 70 percent recycling rate or zero waste of resources; pursuing new technologies like anaerobic digestion; establishing solid waste collection standards; enhancing waste prevention and recycling; division funding; and many other intricacies of the solid waste business and industry, just about everything is covered and discussed in the Comp Plan. 

For the past several months, the division has been working with its two advisory committees - the Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) and the Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee (MSWMAC) - to draft a new Comp Plan. 

That draft is expected to be released for public comment at the end of 2017, and the division will offer briefings to all of its city partners. These briefings will allow cities the chance to speak with representatives from the Solid Waste Division, hear about the various components of the plan, ask questions, and learn how to provide comments. 

If you would like to schedule a briefing, contact the division's Intergovernmental Relations Liaison Olivia Robinson at Olivia.Robinson@kingcounty.gov, or by calling 206-477-3566. 

Learn more about the plan and read the most recent iteration here: http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/about/planning/comp-plan.asp

Enumclaw Recycling and Transfer Station now open daily 

Customers who use the Enumclaw Recycling and Transfer Station can now access the facility seven days a week. 

As of May 1, the recycling and transfer station is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. Prior to the change, facility was closed to the public on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Located at 1650 Battersby Ave. E., the station serves residents and businesses largely from the Enumclaw, Black Diamond, and Maple Valley areas.

In addition to accepting garbage, the station also accepts a wide variety of materials for recycling – and opening two additional days per week enhances customer access to the numerous recycling opportunities at the station, including:

• Appliances,
• Cardboard,
• Comingled recyclables (paper, cans, glass bottles and jars, plastic containers),
• Fluorescent bulbs and tubes,
• Scrap metal,
• Textiles,
• Clean wood (untreated/unpainted/unstained), and
• Yard waste.

Wastemobile services continue

The Wastemobile, a traveling household hazardous waste collection service in King County, continues its 2017 season with a collection event in Kent June 9-11. 

The Wastemobile will be at the Kent Fire Station #75, located at 15635 SE 272nd Street, Kent. 

Residents can drop off household hazardous waste items including pesticides, oil-based paints, automotive products (oil, antifreeze, lamps, etc.), fluorescent bulbs/tubes and other items without a charge. The service is pre-paid through garbage and sewer utility fees.

Following its stop in Kent, the Wastemobile will travel to Bothell for a collection event at the Seattle Times Building located at 19200 120th Ave NE, Bothell. 

For the full Wastemobile schedule, visit http://www.hazwastehelp.org/HHW/wastemobile.aspx.