Auburn approves trash-amnesty fee waiver and authorizes new waste collection vehicles

The Auburn City Council approved a residential trash-amnesty fee waiver that will suspend the city's usual excess-trash fees for the period March 9 through April 3, 2026, and authorized multiple equipment purchases for the Environmental Services Department.

Environmental Services Director Katrina Cook explained the trash-amnesty waiver applies to bulky outdoor items such as leaves, debris piles, appliances and lawn equipment (with oil and gasoline drained). Hazardous waste and ordinary household garbage are excluded. The city's ordinance typically limits curbside debris to 5 cubic yards per household; the amnesty will allow larger volumes without the usual fees (half-load $50, full-load $100).

Council also authorized purchases described on the agenda: two grapple/loaders with hard box bodies for $562,304, and Kenworth L-770 dual-steer 31-yard side loaders totaling $893,376. Cook said the department serves roughly 20,000 households for garbage and about 16,000 households for recycling, amounting to roughly one million stops per year across routes operating Monday through Thursday.

Separately, the council approved the purchase of a 2026 Chevrolet Colorado 4x4 pickup truck for the Environmental Services solid-waste enforcement officer in the amount of $33,570.49. Staff said the enforcement team has two officers; one uses a grant-purchased recycling vehicle restricted to recycling duties and the new vehicle is needed to perform general solid-waste enforcement duties. The pickup was described as an expansion vehicle for the enforcement role but staff confirmed it is necessary because grant-funded vehicles are limited to their intended programs.

Council approved the items on motion and voice votes as part of the consent and resolutions portions of the agenda.