Washington State Department of Ecology :
Solid Waste : Local Planning
Local Planning
Local solid waste planning is the cornerstone of solid waste management in Washington state. The state
Legislature asks counties and cities to make sound solid waste handling decisions based on approved and
“current” comprehensive solid waste management plans.
These comprehensive plans detail and inventory all existing solid waste handling facilities within a county
and provide an estimate of long-range needs for solid waste facilities projected over a 20-year period.
The plans are intended to serve as a guiding document for a county to develop its infrastructure. Since 1989,
counties and cities have been required to provide detailed information on waste reduction strategies and
recycling programs and schedules for program implementation in the plans.
In addition, since 1988, local governments have been required to plan for moderate risk waste programs.
Initially these plans were separate, but as cities and counties have revised their plans to maintain them
in current condition, the solid waste and moderate risk waste plans have been combined.
The Department of Ecology provides technical and financial assistance through the
Coordinated Prevention Grants program to local governments in preparing and implementing their plans.
Ecology also is responsible for approving the plans.
Requirements for solid waste planning are found in chapter 70.95 RCW, Solid Waste Management – Reduction and
Recycling.
Requirements for moderate risk waste planning are found in chapter 70.105 RCW, Hazardous Waste Management.
Procedures for developing solid waste plans are found in Guidelines for the Development of Local Solid
Waste Management Plans and Plan Revisions, June 1999, Publication No. 90-502 (revised).
Procedures for developing moderate risk waste plans are found in
Guidelines for Development of Local Hazardous Waste Plans, August, 1994, Publication #93-99.
Additional information about specific city and county programs can be found through the
city and county recycling web pages.