County staff recommends sole-source disposal contract with Adams County Regional Landfill to reduce transport expense

Spokane County solid-waste staff asked the Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 4 to approve pursuing a sole-source disposal contract with Adams County Regional Landfill (operated by Waste Management) rather than opening a full RFP, citing transport-cost advantages and equipment compatibility.

Deb Geiger, Solid Waste, told commissioners that Adams County is the nearest landfill option and that modeled transport costs to more distant sites such as Finley Buttes and Roosevelt would increase transportation expense substantially — she said the modeled increase to Finley Buttes would be approximately 50% higher than Adams County and that the disposal price would need to be 50% lower elsewhere to offset transport. "If someone was able to give us that low of a disposal cost, we would have that much more... environmental impact on the longer drives," she said.

Lindsay and Deb reported initial pricing indications from Waste Management around $31.50 per ton at Adams County and estimated the county currently sends roughly 50,000–70,000 tons annually to landfill. They projected savings of $60,000 to as much as $350,000 a year depending on container-packing efficiency and tonnage directed to landfill. Staff also emphasized operational advantages from using Dietrich containers (existing county transport contract) rather than railcars: containers fit compactors better, reduce compactor jams and allow higher payloads per container.

Staff said they would work with purchasing to present a resolution to the board for Feb. 18 and noted the proposed sole-source disposal contract would be disposal-only; transportation would remain under the county's separate contract.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to ensure sole-source legal criteria are met; staff said they would work with the purchasing office and prepare the Feb. 18 resolution.