Residents urge Yakima County to limit out-of-county waste at Keaton Landfill

Pam Wickersham, a Gleed resident, urged the Board of Yakima County Commissioners on March 11 to adopt a “no out of county waste ordinance” to limit material arriving at the Keaton landfill.

Wickersham said she plans to provide documents to the clerk and told commissioners she will return with more evidence. “I’m requesting that you adopt a no out of county waste ordinance,” she said. Wickersham also described newspaper reporting and an email exchange she provided that — she said — indicate increased shipments from Canada beginning in 2021 and alleged a $2,000-per-load cost for some shipments.

The matter matters because speakers said outside waste can shorten the useful life of local landfills and raise environmental concerns. Nancy Lust, who identified herself as a Yakima County resident, told the board she supports a higher tipping fee for out-of-county waste, and warned about gypsum deliveries that can generate hydrogen sulfide gas over time: “I would really like to see the commissioners look into a tipping fee for out of county waste,” she said.

Kent Gartrell, a registered voter in the City of Yakima who spoke earlier during public comment, urged the commissioners to review county codes and coordinate with nearby jurisdictions and service providers. “The commissioners need to form a committee to go over all of their codes and ordinances and building and public works department, to redo those rules and match the state,” Gartrell said. He also suggested the county coordinate with nearby legislative districts and the city of "Mapton" (name as spoken) and mentioned outreach to Camp Hope in the context of homelessness and service coordination.

Speakers raised several specific concerns and requests rather than filing formal proposals for immediate board action. Those included: (1) pursuing a county ordinance to ban out-of-county waste, (2) evaluating a higher tipping fee for out-of-county loads, (3) researching the origin and handling of alleged Canadian shipments to local landfills, and (4) monitoring gypsum deliveries because of gas-generation risks.

Commissioners accepted the documents Wickersham provided for the public record; the clerk will scan and retain them, per the meeting proceedings. No formal motion, ordinance proposal, or vote on landfill restrictions or tipping fees was taken during the March 11 meeting.

The comments were made during the public comment portion of the March 11 agenda; commissioners did not take action but acknowledged receipt of materials and directed staff to retain submissions in the record.