Resident questions timeline and cost for Skagit County curbside recycling; county developing minimum service ordinance

At the Skagit County Board of County Commissioners public-comment period on May 13, a resident asked for details on the county’s planned curbside recycling program and the timeline to implement service.

Larita Humboldt (also identifying herself as Tweedy Lake Cavanaugh) told commissioners she sat in on a Public Works meeting and learned staff are drafting a minimum service-level ordinance for curbside recycling. "I am interested in what the realistic timeline might be for the service to begin after all parties involved cross all of their t's and dot all of their i's," she said. She asked whether the program will be mandatory and how fees will be set or apportioned across more- and less-densely populated areas.

Humboldt asked whether fees will be averaged across the county or vary by location, and whether the county or the private hauler will set rates. She said she personally favors mandatory recycling because it keeps recyclable commodities out of landfills.

The county presentation earlier in the meeting noted Public Works is preparing a minimum service agreement for commissioners’ signature; the transcript did not include a specific implementation date or a final decision on whether service will be mandatory. The record also did not specify who will set final customer fees, only that cost allocation and hauler contracts remain under discussion.

The public comment period included other speakers on unrelated items; no formal action on curbside recycling was taken at the May 13 meeting.