September 23, 2005

Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in

King County Washington

Program Funding

The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program

• Was established in 1990

• Mission: To protect and enhance public health and environmental quality in King County by helping citizens, businesses and government reduce the threat posed by the use, storage and disposal of hazardous materials.

Program Partners

• 37 Suburban Cities in King County

• King County Water & Land Resources

• Public Health - Seattle & King County

• Seattle Public Utilities

• King County Solid Waste

Vital Statistics

• Household hazardous waste education and collection services for over 1.7 million residents

• Information, technical and field assistance, financial incentives and many other programs for approximately 60,000 conditionally exempt small quantity generators.

• In 2004:– almost $11.6 million to operate the Program

– 67 (full time equivalent) employees

The Local Hazardous Waste Management Program is funded primarily by fees established by the King County Board of Health

• 80 % of fee-based revenue comes from Solid Waste Fees– On solid waste accounts

– On waste self-hauled to transfer stations & landfills

• 20% of fee-based revenue comes from Sewer Fees – On wastewater treatment facilities

• Other revenue sources include:– State grant funding (Coordinated Prevention Grant)

– Interest on Fund Balance

Local Hazardous Waste Fees (As set by the Seattle and King County Boards of Health in 1991)

Solid Waste Fees

Residential solid waste fee (per account) $0.60/month

Commercial solid waste fee (per account) $5.25/month

Transfer station fees – Passenger licensed vehicles $1.00/visit

Transfer station fees – Non-passenger licensed vehicles $2.61/ton

Sewer Fee * $17.51/million gallons treated

* Estimated monthly residential equivalent $ 0.17/month

Residential fees Services for ResidentsResidential fees Services for Residents

Non-residential fees Services for businesses and other SQGs

LHW Fund Reserves,

$2,288,995 20%

Local Hazardous

Waste Fees & Revenues,

$9,167,151 80%

2003 Revenues Including Local Hazardous Waste Fund Reserves - $11,456,146

Local Hazardous Waste Budgets and Expenditures

$-

$2,000,000

$4,000,000

$6,000,000

$8,000,000

$10,000,000

$12,000,000

2003 2004 2005

Year

Am

ou

nt

Bu

dg

ete

d (

$)

$12,562,688 $12,519,878

$11,534,994$11,456,147 $11,597,554

Funding Options Considered

Types of Fees

• Eco Fee

• Flat fee per ton of solid waste

• Fee per unit (per household or business)

• Property tax

• Status Quo

Evaluation Criteria

• Legal?

• Ease of fee collection

• Ease of administration

• Ratepayer equity

• Verifiability

• Feasibility

• Stability

Local Hazardous Waste Fee IncreaseTo Take Effect January 1, 2006

$0.34/month$0.32/month $0.25/month$0.17/month*Estimated monthly residential equivalent

$33.92/million gallons

 $32.40/million gallons

$25.31/milliongallons

$17.51/milliongallonsSewer Fee*

 

$3.50/ton 

 

$2.61/tonTransfer station fees(Non-passenger vehicles)

 $1.34/visit 

 $1.00/visit

Transfer station fees(Passenger licensed vehicles)

  $9.07/month$6.77/month$5.25/month

Commercial solid wastefee (per account)

  $0.80/month

 $0.60/monthResidential solid waste

fee (per account)

2007200619951991Solid Waste Fees

ApprovedApproved

Things that Helped

• Survey Data

• Work with Internal Stakeholders

• Work with External Stakeholders

• Being prepared with detailed performance and financial data

Local Hazardous Waste Fund Reserves - 2006 to 2010(with fee increase)

$1.7M$1.6M $1.6 M

$1.1M

$0.4M

-$0.6M-$1.0

$0.0

$1.0

$2.0

$3.0

$4.0

$5.0

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Year

Do

lla

rs i

n M

illi

on

s

For More Information

• About our program visit our web site at www.govlink.org/hazwaste/

• About our new fees visit www.govlink.org/hazwaste/about/faq.html

• Contact:– Liz Tennant, Policy Analyst - Liz.Tennant@metrokc.gov or 206-284-

7974

– Ken Armstrong, Program Administrator - Ken.Armstrong@metrokc.gov or 206 352-8163

– Yinka Otusanya, Fund Manager - Yinka.Otusanya@metrokc.gov or

206 296-7620.

Questions?