Program updates: inspections catching up, outreach reaches 2,000 residents; Vancouver reports AmeriCorps pause; Waste Connections reports record self‑haul April

At the May 1 Solid Waste Advisory Commission meeting, staff and partner agencies reported operational updates covering enforcement, operations, education and outreach, partner contracts, and hauling/transfer operations.

Enforcement and operations: Chuck Harmon, Grama Manager at Clark County Public Health, said enforcement inspections are catching up after staff turnover late last year. Two staff members were reassigned to cover enforcement after an inspector left in September; inspections resumed and the program is working to clear an inspection backlog. Harmon said staff are pursuing MOLO certification to inspect landfills and are continuing coordination with the Department of Ecology.

Solid waste operations: Sarah reported the county is awaiting Department of Ecology’s courtesy review of the comprehensive solid waste management plan; county staff expect that review to be returned by May 9. Joelle (operations manager) was absent.

Education and outreach: The education/outreach manager reported the program has attended or hosted more than 30 events since the last meeting and engaged over 2,000 residents. Recent events included composting trainings, a food‑waste prevention week and two banner events hosted by Green Neighbors outreach lead Camille Shelton (a trivia event with 53 participants and a “scrappy cooking” workshop with 76 attendees). The county also graduated a class of composter‑recycler volunteers and named its 2025 green business award winners: PeaceHealth (reusables/waste reduction), Simply Time Catering (long‑term sustainability commitment), TSMC Washington (Trailblazer Award) and Evergreen Habitat for Humanity Store (Community Champion). The county plans a celebration lunch on May 29 at Fourth Plain Community Commons.

City of Vancouver: A city representative said Washington Service Corps directed a pause of AmeriCorps activities nationwide, which temporarily affects the city’s AmeriCorps members; staff are seeking alternatives. The city reported upcoming Recycling 101 workshops (May 14, June 25) and Recycling 201 on July 10, noted first‑year reporting to Ecology on diverted organics was submitted and that a five‑year yard debris contract with McFarland Bark will go to Vancouver city council. The city also said negotiations with CRC on a MRF/master services agreement are currently paused.

Waste Connections and hauling/transfer operations: Waste Connections staff reported a record self‑haul month in April: 14,952 tons inbound (reported by Waste Connections staff), which the presenter described as an 8% increase over last April. The company said commodities remain movable to markets, but the supply chain for hog fuel (wood waste) has tightened and only one mill in Longview is accepting certain wood waste, leaving larger hog‑fuel piles at transfer stations. Waste Connections reported a flagger was struck earlier in the week at a transfer station; staff said they are applying for a gas mitigation permit at a former C&D landfill parcel behind CTR and are exploring short‑term options to manage wood‑waste piles.

Other items and logistics: The county is planning a Dirt Huggers tour May 15 (Delsport/Dallesport area) and has 23 neighborhood cleanup events scheduled this year. Kyle Potter was acknowledged as his last meeting after six years of service; the county said it is recruiting to fill his southwest county vacancy through May 30. The next SWAC meeting was set for Aug. 7.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve Feb. 6, 2025 meeting minutes — approved (unanimous voice vote). Motion moved and seconded on record; voters responded “Aye”; no named vote tally was recorded in the transcript. - Motion to approve April 10, 2025 special meeting minutes — approved (unanimous voice vote). Motion moved and seconded on record; voters responded “Aye”; no named vote tally was recorded in the transcript.

What officials emphasized: staff stressed continued coordination with the Department of Ecology for plan review and permitting, the need to complete inspections and staff certifications, and the importance of public outreach and business engagement.