King County presents 2026 solid-waste rate proposal; Shoreline 32‑gal can to rise about $0.79/month

King County Solid Waste Division director Rebecca Singer and staff presented the division's 2026 rate proposal to the Shoreline City Council on Aug. 4, outlining drivers of higher costs and options the county will use in future rate work.

Singer introduced Dave Pierce, who described the division's revenue and expense picture and said the proposal is limited to 2026 with a separate 2027 rate review to follow. "For a person having a 32‑gallon trash can, the estimated increase in their bill would be 79¢ a month," Pierce said, adding that systemwide the projected increase averages about 71¢ per month.

The presentation said disposal is the majority of division revenue and highlighted rising capital expenditures tied to Cedar Hills landfill work and other large projects. Pierce said capital spending grows in the forecast — for example, capital-related debt service rising toward 2031 — and pointed to development of Area 9 (a final cell at Cedar Hills) and the North Regional transfer station ("NERs") as key drivers.

Why it matters: council members pressed county staff on how the rate is…