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Franklin County reviews first solid‑waste plan update since 2010 as Ecology review begins
Summary
Herrera Environmental Consultants presented Franklin County's solid waste and hazardous waste management plan update, explaining the regulatory review, a 120‑day Ecology comment period and an adoption timeline aiming for city and county resolutions in mid‑2026, with final Ecology review in August 2026.
Franklin County commissioners on Jan. 14 heard an overview of the county’s first comprehensive solid waste and hazardous waste plan update since 2010 and were given a timeline for the state regulatory review.
Wendy Mifflin, senior planner with Herrera Environmental Consultants, said state rules require local governments to revisit and revise solid waste plans at least every five years, and the county’s plan is currently in a regulatory review period with the Washington State Department of Ecology, the State Department of Agriculture and the Utilities and Transportation Commission. "Regulations require that local governments such as Franklin County have to maintain a current solid waste management plan" and Ecology has about 120 days to provide comments, Mifflin said.
Mifflin told the board that the plan combines solid and hazardous waste management and was prepared cooperatively by the county and the participating cities (Pasco, Mesa and Colotes) under an interlocal agreement. She described four goal areas in the draft: infrastructure and systems planning for six‑ and 20‑year time horizons, economic stability and sustainable funding, education and outreach, and accounting for evolving state regulations for recycling and organics.
She outlined next steps: responding to Ecology’s comments after the review window, returning the revised plan to the county’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee for final approval, and then pursuing city and county resolutions for adoption, with Mifflin expecting city adoptions and a county resolution between May and July 2026 and a final Ecology review in August 2026.
Commissioners asked procedural questions and received confirmation that the plan had completed local SEPA requirements and that written comments and interagency input had been received. No formal action on the plan was taken at the Jan. 14 meeting; Mifflin said the county is already in the Ecology review period that began in December 2025.
