Commissioners debate definition and fees for bulky items, batteries and EV components

Commissioners reviewed the Solid Waste fee schedule’s proposed definition of household hazardous waste and whether bulky household items should be handled or charged differently. A commissioner asked whether bulky items such as sofas, mattresses and carpet should be excluded from the general household definition because they take up disproportionate container volume and can drive extra haul frequency. Melissa, Solid Waste staff, said that other jurisdictions set separate bulky‑item fees or limit one free bulky pickup per year, and that mattress and furniture disposal is commonly charged by size because of container volume. She also explained that batteries vary widely and that certain types require special handling; she said vehicle (automotive) batteries are accepted and generate revenue, but newer battery types, including EV batteries, are not accepted at household hazardous waste events because of high handling/disposal costs (an example she cited: EV battery disposal once cost the county about $5,000 for a single set). Commissioners discussed options: (1) keep bulky items within the household definition and monitor volumes, (2) create a separate bulky‑item fee based on container volume to reflect haul and labor costs, or (3) add an asterisk to the fee schedule that items requiring special handling (for refrigerant, large batteries, etc.) carry separate fees. Several commissioners favored the latter approach: list general household items covered by a sticker and note that items requiring special handling (refrigerant appliances, large batteries, tube‑type electronics) carry an additional per‑item fee. Staff were asked to return a clarified definition that: distinguishes bulky for cubic‑volume reasons, lists appliances that require separate handling (for example refrigerators with refrigerant), and explicitly states that EV batteries are not accepted at household hazardous waste days and require alternative disposal. The commissioners did not adopt a separate bulky‑item fee at this meeting; instead they directed staff to refine definitions and identify which items require per‑item special handling fees and to provide cost data to support any separate fee proposal.