HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026 Recycling Changes Flyer (002)RECYCLING PROGRAM CHANGES
Beginning April 1, 2026 ,
Jefferson County residents will pay directly for recycling.
Jefferson County Solid Waste
Curbside service is more efficient, cost-effective, and planet-friendly.
One truck can substitute for up to 1,000 personal vehicles driving around the county.
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Waste Connections
(360) 385-6612
Curbside pick-up service
For people who can’t access curbside pickup (due
to location or road access) or choose to self-haul
their recycling and/or garbage.
• Port Townsend—325 Landfill Road behind the
Port Townsend Transfer Station scales
$20 fee for up to 220 lbs
• Quilcene Rural Drop Box Facility
295312 Highway 101; $20 fee for up to two
32-gallon cans of waste + all recycling
Low-income rates available.
Self-haul to Solid Waste facilities
Scan for quotes.
Low-income rates available.
• We ’re removing all un-staffed county recycling drop boxes: Port Ludlow, Port
Hadlock, and Kala Point sites.
• Fee-based recycling at Solid Waste facilities: Port Townsend and Quilcene.
(We’re contracting with Olympic Waste Disposal to provide this service.)
• Consolidated recycling types: cans, plastic bottles and jugs, paper, and
cardboard will be accepted in one bin. No more separating each type - except
for glass which will continue to be on its own.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
Recycling will still be available, but no longer supported by Solid Waste fees.
WHAT CHANGES WILL I SEE?
Want to learn more about this change?
Visit our website www.jeffersoncountysolidwaste.com
https://www.wasteconnections.com/sequim
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Residential garbage collection should not
subsidize recycling
Jefferson County subsidizes our recycling program by $326,000
each year! This cost is factored into the fee households are
charged for disposal of trash at the Transfer Stations in Port
Townsend and Quilcene. We also depend on offsets from state
grants and commodity sales.
Recycling always had a cost. At the start of the recycling
program, the value of recyclables helped offset the costs of
collection and processing. This helped keep the costs low. In the
last decade, commodity values have plummeted while the costs
of collection and processing continue to rise.
In 2020 we conducted contamination audits to determine the
percentage of unrecyclable materials placed in our bins. The
findings were a dismally high rate.
In response, we boosted our education outreach to include:
• Updated and revised recycling flyer to address
contamination issues and misconceptions
• Updated and revised the web page including videos and
helpful web links
• Revised drop box signs to highlight contamination
• Hosted seven in-person community presentations on
recycling
• Posted samples of contamination on sandwich boards at all
drop box locations
• Volunteers spoke with citizens at drop box locations
(Volunteers received such negative reactions during this outreach that we
determined not to do this again.)
• Conducted a county-wide survey to assess misconceptions
and help re-design outreach actions
• Presentations on KPTZ
• Presentations to community groups
The two audits following this
effort found no improvement.
Why is the contamination rate so high
in the drop boxes? Three reasons:
1) Some people are not paying attention to what
is accepted, despite signs on the drop boxes,
and flyers online and mailed in PUD bills.
2) Drop boxes seen as a “free” place to dump
garbage—over 41 tons in 2024! Those added
costs have been significant for the county.
3) Well-meaning “wish-cyclers” thinking if they
put an unaccepted item in the bin, it will be
recycled somewhere. Unfortunately, it is just
garbage and contaminates the load.
2025 Open Public Meetings
- January 23
- March 26
- April 29
Solid Waste Advisory Committee
meetings and joint SWAC/BOCC
meetings for SWAC members,
Commissioners, and public input
- July 21 Proposal announced at BOCC meeting
- September 2
The County Commissioners agreed with staff’s
recommendation and gave direction to develop
• an Operating Agreement with Waste
Connections for the management of the
County-owned recycling center
• a Level of Service Ordinance that would
establish the curbside recycling options such
as choices in bin sizes and collection frequency
BOCC meeting
- November 3 BOCC meeting
BOCC solicited public comment on the Level of
Service Ordinance at a Public Hearing and
adopted the Ordinance.
2026 Changes
- April 1
Current recycling services contract ends
New recycling program begins
See our web page for meeting recordings:
www.jeffersoncountysolidwaste.com
(Login & Password: public)
Want to learn more about this change?
Visit our website www.jeffersoncountysolidwaste.com
The contamination level at the drop boxes is
high and hasn’t dropped despite our best
efforts to educate the community.
RECYCLING PROGRAM CHANGES
Jefferson County Solid Waste