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Board authorizes 10-year landfill services agreement with Adams County site
Summary
The board approved a 10-year contract to use Adams County Regional Landfill when the county's primary waste-energy facility lacks capacity; staff said the deal saves per-ton costs and provides operational control over county disposal when needed.
Spokane County commissioners unanimously approved an agreement authorizing Spokane County Public Works Solid Waste Division to use the Adams County Regional Landfill for disposal when the county's primary waste-to-energy facility cannot accept material.
Deb Geiger, presenting for Solid Waste, said the county historically used the city's disposal contract as a single point of service but negotiated a direct agreement with Waste Management at the Adams County facility to gain administrative and operational efficiencies and a lower per-ton fee. "We were able to actually get a better price, so we get to save a couple of dollars a ton," Geiger told the board.
Under the approved contract, the county will pay $31.50 per ton at the Adams County site, with annual price adjustments tied to CPI. The contract term is 10 years with discretionary five-year extensions; staff estimated potential total contract value could range from $18 million to $28 million over a decade depending on volumes. Geiger said the Adams County landfill is the closest practical non-waste-to-energy option for the county and that the next nearest site is roughly 40'to'44 miles farther, making transport impractical for routine use.
Geiger said the county typically diverts roughly 50% of material from its transfer stations to landfills on an annual basis when the waste-to-energy plant reaches capacity, and the new contract is intended to formalize that disposal channel while reducing per-ton costs and improving container and transport consistency. She also explained the county used a reasonable-and-prudent justification to proceed without an additional competitive RFP for operational efficiency; purchasing, legal and risk-management staff supported the approach.
A public commenter asked how often the county must use the landfill; Geiger replied it is seasonal (higher volumes in spring, summer and fall) and that about half the county's transfer-station loads go to landfills each year.
The board voted to authorize the agreement (Project No. 25-574) and directed staff to finalize contract execution and operational steps with the Solid Waste Division.
