Basin Disposal briefs Pasco on unlimited collection, state recycling bills and potential cost impacts

Rebecca Francik, representing Basin Disposal, reviewed how Pasco's municipal contract works (the city has opted out of Washington's UTC utility model and uses a local contract), explained the company's unlimited weekly set-out policy and drop-box recycling program, and discussed potential impacts from two state bills under consideration.

Francik said Pasco customers may place unlimited extra bags, bundles and boxes beside a 96-gallon cart each week and that a second 96-gallon cart would be available for $2.66 per month in 2026. She described collection equipment and logistics, explained the company uses a Laredo-Gallagher cost method (the same used by UTC) and said the contract contains a 90% CPI pass-through clause for annual adjustments. She noted that CPI adjustments alone do not fully cover long-term cost trends and that formal rate cases every three to five years are the standard way to reset charges.

Francik warned of two state developments likely to affect Pasco: HB1799 (which requires jurisdictions of Pasco's size to provide curbside organics/green waste collection by 2030) and SB5284 (an expansion toward mandatory curbside recycling). She said local organics processing capacity does not currently exist and that a regional solution or processing facility will be required; she also described recycling commodity market volatility and explained why the city's drop-box program is currently cardboard-centric. Council members and members of the public asked about electronics and appliance pickup procedures, illegal haulers, and the prospect of city-led cleanup weeks; Basin staff said advance notice improves service for large-item pickups and offered to collaborate on outreach and a possible designated cleanup week to promote proper use of unlimited service.