Snohomish County has reworked how it charges for solid-waste disposal, and county staff told the Mountlake Terrace City Council on Aug. 28 that the changes — approved by the Snohomish County Council — will raise fees at the Southwest Transfer Station and are likely to increase Mountlake Terrace curbside bills by roughly $3 to $4 per month, plus future inflation adjustments.

John Grenninger, operations manager for the Snohomish County Solid Waste Division, told council that the county separated its fee schedules and set a higher self-haul tipping rate and a lower hauler (curbside) rate. "Beginning Jan. 1, [2026], self-haul will be $160 per ton and curbside will be $149 per ton," Grenninger said, adding that the county estimates those changes will translate to about a $3–$4 monthly increase for most residential curbside customers. He also said the county approved a larger minimum-load charge: "360 pounds will now be $30 beginning January 1." (360 pounds is the stated minimum-load threshold.)

Gary Shymick, Mountlake Terrace public works director, joined Grenninger in answering council questions. Shymick said Waste Management remains the city's contracted hauler for curbside collection and that haulers will work with the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) and each contract city to set final customer rates after the county's fee notice. "Haulers will take these rates, work with the UTC, and work with contract cities to figure what the rates will be," Shymick said.

Why it matters: the county says its previous base tipping fee of $105 per ton has not kept pace with costs since it was set in the 2000s and that recent years of higher tonnage and program costs made a comprehensive rate analysis necessary. Grenninger said county tonnage is about 8% higher year-to-date than the prior year and that the county performed a cost-of-service evaluation to set separate schedules for waste-export fees and other program fees.

Key details presented to council
- Self-haul tipping fee: increase from $105/ton to $160/ton, prorated by weight. (Council staff clarified minimum-load up to 360 lb will be $30.)
- Hauler/curbside tipping fee: set at $149/ton (county analysis considers curbside loads easier to process and more consistent in composition).
- County created two fee schedules: one for waste export (rail export) and one for other program fees (green waste, household hazardous waste, business disposal fees).
- Estimated direct residential impact: county and hauler estimates presented a ballpark $3–$4/month increase to curbside bills; company-specific customer charges will vary and final rates depend on hauler contracts and UTC review.
- Annual escalation: the county adopted predictable annual increases — the presentation stated a 3% increase each Jan. 1 beginning Jan. 1, 2027, as part of the new code language.
- Unsecured-load fee: increased from $5 to $20 for unsecured loads assessed at transfer stations; enforcement mechanisms were described as consistent with existing RCW (state statute) authority on securing loads.

Council members pressed county staff on whether non-resident use of transfer stations (King County customers bringing loads to Snohomish County because of lower tipping fees) is driving volume. Grenninger said out-of-area use is a factor but that county analysis found it not large enough to degrade services; the county is evaluating residency-verification options similar to models used in other counties but has not adopted them.

Grenninger also told the council the county is replacing some infrastructure at the Southwest Transfer Station in spring (scale replacements and a new scale-house roof) and that work could slow throughput and cause longer lines during construction.

County process and next steps
The rate changes and fee schedules were adopted by the Snohomish County Council (county motion and ordinance referenced by county staff). Grenninger noted the county sent haulers a notification letter on June 23; haulers are working with the UTC and contract cities on how those tipping-fee changes will be reflected in final customer billing. The county is also conducting a new RFP for a waste-export contract (the county's current export contract had potential extensions but staff were unable to agree on extensions and issued an RFP in August).

What council directed/asked
Council members asked staff for clearer estimates of local customer impacts, asked staff to coordinate outreach materials for the new fees and unsecured-load enforcement, and requested advance notice of any operational closures at the Southwest Transfer Station. Mountlake Terrace staff said they will coordinate with county outreach and bring information back to council as details from haulers and the UTC become available.

Limitations and open items
The county presentation included several estimates that the county and haulers labeled as "ballpark" figures and noted CPI/inflation factors will be added to rates in future years. Final customer rate changes for individual households will be set by haulers working with the UTC and contract cities; the city did not vote on the county ordinances at this meeting.

For residents: Mountlake Terrace staff said Waste Management will provide a hauler-specific estimate to the city and will present to council when finalized.

Ending: Council thanked county staff for the presentation and asked that the county and Waste Management return with more precise customer impacts and outreach plans before the new fees take effect.