Kira Erickson reports from the Island County Board of Commissioners meeting of Tue., Dec. 17, 2024 for the Whidbey News-Times.
A big increase in the cost of hauling garbage from an Island County facility to the mainland will soon translate to a price hike for Whidbey residents who drop off trash.
Just in time for the new year, Island County officials approved a new solid waste contract for the continued transportation of garbage to a regional landfill for disposal.
The county commissioners, however, were displeased by the cost increases that came with the new $36 million contract, which spans six years with two opportunities for renewal. Tipping fee increases are imminent for Whidbey residents, despite concerns from county officials about the fallout.
They Said It
“If it’s too expensive to have people dispose of their garbage, they’ll find ways to dispose of it,” Commissioner Jill Johnson said in an interview Monday. “You want to keep it as affordable as you can so people don’t just dump their trash in the woods, on the side of the road.”
She acknowledged, however, that the years since the COVID-19 pandemic have been killer in terms of cost escalation for all businesses.
