"Environmental Fees" are Not Ecology Fees

When the FBI called Scott Lamb, toxics reduction specialist in Bellevue, he realized it wasn’t about some new terrorist threat. In fact, it was a story he had heard before. An auto shop had charged substantial “environmental fees” for work done on the FBI’s fleet, and claimed that the Department of Ecology required these fees.

Lamb explained the state does not require “environmental fees.” Some repair shops add fees, usually small amounts, to their bills to help with disposal of used oil and other materials. But that is their choice – it is not based on any rule or law of the state.

The only fee the state of Washington requires auto shops to pass on to consumers is a $1 per tire fee on the sale of new tires. That money goes into a special account to prevent and clean up illegal tire piles.

State and federal law does require auto shops – in fact all businesses – to properly manage any materials and wastes that qualify as hazardous. This includes wastes from petroleum, solvents, acids, poisons, and heavy metals such as lead and mercury. The wastes must be contained, labeled, handled, and disposed of in a way that protects human health and the environment.

Most businesses do a good job and consider the associated costs part of being a good member of the community.