Cedar Hills Regional Landfill meeting details gas, noise changes
May 28, 2013
In a quarterly community information meeting about the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill, members of the King County Solid Waste Division told those gathered that they have taken steps to correct noise and gas issues.
About 20 people attended the meeting in the King County Library Services building April 24 for the regular meeting in which the county hoped to continue a conversation with the community.
Victor Okereke, the engineering services manager for the Solid Waste Division, discussed the changes made in the landfill to respond to odor and gas complaints.
Residents sue Cedar Grove Composting over odors
February 5, 2013
In Mirrormont, longtime homeowner Cathe Avila can no longer keep windows open at home, or walk black Labrador retriever Django in the neighborhood.
The problem, she said, is the odor from the Cedar Grove Composting facility in unincorporated King County between Issaquah and Maple Valley, about seven miles southwest of downtown Issaquah.
Avila said the odor is traceable to 2004, once Cedar Grove starting accepting food scraps for composting.
“Then, after that, the smell just started getting worse and worse,” she said.
Options abound to recycle old Christmas trees
December 31, 2012
NEW — 2 p.m. Dec. 31, 2012
Christmas is history, and residents ready to pitch old Christmas trees can do so in different ways.
Chip trees — minus tinsel and other decorations — into landscaping material or ground finer into a composting soil amendment.
Customers tired of evergreens dropping brown needles can set out trees for yard waste collection on regular yard waste collection days.
Haulers do not collect trees decked in flocking or decorations. Contact garbage haulers for details; CleanScapes and Allied Waste — a local name for national company Republic Services — serve Issaquah.
King County garbage disposal fee hike starts Jan. 1
December 21, 2012
NEW — 10 a.m. Dec. 21, 2012
Residents can expect to pay more for garage pick-up, and to dump garbage at transfer stations and drop boxes, after Jan. 1, as King County seeks to modernize the aging solid waste system.
The average residential customer putting out a single container of garbage for curbside collection per week is likely pay about 57 cents per month more as garbage haulers cover the disposal fees.
Haulers, such as CleanScapes and Allied Waste, pass along the rate increase to customers.
The fee for bringing solid waste to a transfer station or drop box is poised to increase from $117.42 to $129.40 per ton, including tax and a moderate risk waste fee. The minimum fee is due to increase from $20 to $22, including tax and the fee.
King County Council adopts 2013 budget without roads fee
November 13, 2012
NEW — 4 p.m. Nov. 13, 2012
King County Council members dropped a proposed $20 vehicle-license fee to fund road maintenance and, in a unanimous decision Tuesday, approved the 2013 budget without the fee.
In September, King County Executive Dow Constantine proposed a $20 fee to fund road maintenance and storm response in rural and unincorporated areas. The decision to drop the proposed fee affects residents in unincorporated King County communities, including Klahanie, Mirrormont, Preston and other areas outside Issaquah.
Rather than creating a transportation benefit district in unincorporated King County, officials plan to lobby the Legislature for a comprehensive state transportation package to address road maintenance.
Customers could pay more for garbage pickup
October 16, 2012
The cost for garbage pickup in Issaquah and elsewhere in King County is expected to rise next year, after the King County Council approved a rate increase Sept. 24.
Under the updated rate structure, the cost for commercial vehicles, such as garbage trucks, to dump trash at county facilities is $120.17 per ton. The current rate, put in place in September 2011, is $109 per ton.
Haulers, such as CleanScapes and Allied Waste, pass along the rate increase to customers. So, the average customer putting out a single can for pickup can expect to pay about 65 cents more per month next year, although the exact increase depends on how haulers pass on the rate hike to consumers.
The rate is due to increase to $19.22 from $17.49 per load for residents hauling garbage to county transfer stations.
King County hosts Cedar Hills Regional Landfill tour, meeting
October 9, 2012
See the destination for most King County garbage up close.
The county is opening the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill for a free tour from 9-10:30 a.m. Oct. 20.
Cedar Hills, the last operating landfill in the county, encompasses 920 acres and accepts about 800,000 tons of garbage each year from across King County, excluding Seattle and Milton.
King County increases garbage rate to fund system upgrades
September 27, 2012
NEW — 8 a.m. Sept. 27, 2012
The cost for garbage pickup in Issaquah and elsewhere in King County is expected to rise next year, after the King County Council approved a rate increase Monday.
Under the updated rate structure, the cost for commercial vehicles, such as garbage trucks, to dump trash at county facilities is $120.17 per ton. The current rate, put into place in September 2011, is $109 per ton.
Haulers, such as CleanScapes and Allied Waste, pass along the rate increase to customers. So, the average customer putting out a single can for pickup can expect to pay about 65 cents more per month next year, although the exact increase depends on how haulers pass on the rate hike to consumers.
The rate is due to increase to $19.22 from $17.49 per load for residents hauling garbage to county transfer stations.
Nominate ‘green’ businesses, organizations for county honor
May 8, 2012
King County Solid Waste Division officials need nominees for the annual Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling list.
The award spotlights businesses for strong recycling, reuse and waste-prevention efforts. The list, formed in 2007, recognizes the accomplishments of small and large businesses for conserving natural resources, as well as reducing the amount of recyclable materials headed to landfills.
The contest is open to businesses and organizations operating in King County outside Seattle. The deadline for entries is June 29. Apply at http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/garbage-recycling/best-workplaces.asp.
The criteria include waste reduction and recycling practices, such as using reusable or compostable dishware in kitchens, collecting batteries for recycling or setting all printers to default to double-sided printing.
Contact Program Manager Karen May at 206-296-4353 or karen.may@kingcounty.gov to learn more.
In 2011, Issaquah municipal government and the Issaquah School District, plus Issaquah businesses Pogacha, Outsource Marketing, Rowley Properties and Timber Ridge at Talus earned awards through the program.
King County to answer landfill questions at Issaquah meeting
April 17, 2012
Residents from areas near the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill can offer feedback and receive updates at a public meeting soon.
The agency responsible for the landfill, the King County Solid Waste Division, is hosting a community meeting from 7-9 p.m. April 25 at the King County Library Service Center, 960 Newport Way N.W.
Meeting attendees can learn about landfill operations, plus construction and environmental projects at the 920-acre facility. Officials also plan to discuss the Bio Energy Washington landfill-gas-to-energy facility at the landfill site.
King County officials started meeting Cedar Hills Regional Landfill neighbors more than 25 years ago to offer information and collect feedback.
The landfill sprawls across unincorporated King County between Issaquah and Maple Valley.
The community meetings provide a forum for area residents and Solid Waste Division staff to discuss activities, conditions and problems related to the landfill.
Call 206-296-4490 or go to http://your.kingcounty.gov/solidwaste/facilities/cedar-hills-meetings.asp to learn more.
Solid Waste Division officials last hosted a meeting about the landfill in October 2011.
