Summary

To protect public health while maintaining essential services as defined by Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, the King County Solid Waste Division will require all self-haul customers to verify residence or business within King County’s 37-city and unincorporated service area, which excludes the cities of Seattle and Milton.

Story

While King County’s Solid Waste Division recycling and garbage transfer stations remain open for critical disposal services during Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, the division strongly urges self-haul customers to postpone all non-essential visits to its facilities and support the statewide effort to slow the spread COVID-19.

King County transfer stations have seen significant increases in visitors to its transfer stations since other jurisdictions have begun limiting their own services for self-haulers.  This has created long lines at King County operated transfer stations. To further preserve critical services for King County solid waste customers, the division will require verification of residence or business within its service area, which includes 37 cities and unincorporated areas and excludes the cities of Seattle and Milton. Businesses and residents in Snohomish and Pierce counties are also prohibited from bringing waste to King County facilities. King County Code allows these restrictions, as do most other jurisdictions in this region.

Self-haul customers within the King County service area with an essential need to dispose of waste, primarily waste that could smell, rot, or attract pests, should be prepared to show verification of residence or business. This could include a government-issued ID, a utility bill, a rental agreement, vehicle registration, cell phone bill, or pay stub.

Self-haul customers should also aware that social distancing measures are in place at all King County transfer stations to limit the number of people inside the facility at one time. These include a staggered entry system, and barriers and signage to emphasize the need to stay at least six feet apart.

According to Public Health – Seattle & King County, the best thing the public can do to support essential workers for whom telecommuting is not an option, including workers at King County’s recycling and garbage transfer stations, is to stay safe at home. Staying home and avoiding all non-essential contact with others is the best way to stay healthy and keep others healthy.

King County is also asking people to keep essential workers in mind as they evaluate whether a trip to the transfer station right now makes sense, or if it can wait a few more weeks.

For self-haul customers who cannot delay a visit, please be patient with possible long lines and service delays, which come out of measures needed to protect the public and the workers.

People can also support Solid Waste Division frontline workers by taking the following actions:

• Practice social/physical distancing by staying at least six feet from others.
• Stay in their vehicle while waiting at the scales.
• Pay with a card rather than cash.
• Wear a cloth mask, which can help prevent the spread of COVID-19, including by those who do not realize they are infected.

Customers exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19, or sharing a household with someone who does, should not visit King County Solid Waste facilities.

For questions about COVID-19, visit the Public Health – Seattle & King County website: www.kingcounty.gov/covid and subscribe to the Public Health Insider blog: www.publichealthinsider.com

RELEVANT LINKS

• King County Solid Waste Division: kingcounty.gov/solid-waste
• King County Solid Waste Division Facilities: kingcounty.gov/recycling-transfer
• Public Health Insider, Join Us in Thanking our Community’s Essential Workers

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Logan Harris, 206-477-4516

About the King County Solid Waste Division

The Solid Waste Division is guided by its vision to achieve Zero Waste of Resources by 2030, and to enhance the environment through collaboration and innovation. The division operates eight transfer stations, two rural drop boxes, and the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill – the only operational landfill in the county. Our stakeholders include residents and business owners in unincorporated King County and 37 cities throughout the county. Our mission is to deliver value our customers and stakeholders, and to continuously improve waste prevention, resource recovery, and waste disposal.