The Solid Waste and Toxics (SWT) Program issues permits and conducts inspections
of solid waste handling facilities (composting, energy recovery and incineration,
inert waste landfill, material recovery, transfer station, drop box, moderate risk
waste); investigates solid waste complaints and enforces regulations governing illegal
dumping, uncontained garbage, moderate risk waste, and rodents; monitors private
water wells around landfills and provides assistance to small businesses about best
management practices for their waste streams. Requirements for solid waste handling
are regulated under the SHD Sanitary Code.
The Program investigates and resolves complaints concerning garbage accumulations,
illegal dumping, neighborhood rat infestations and the improper storage or disposal
of hazardous waste.
The Solid Waste and Toxics Section investigates complaints concerning the following
activities:
- Garbage - Improper storage, handling, and disposal practices that attract
flies or rodents. This includes uncontained garbage, or garbage not removed weekly.
- Hazardous Waste - Storage, handling, or disposal practices that allow toxic
chemicals to be released to surface water, groundwater or soil.
- Illegal Dumping - Garbage and/or other solid waste dumped on private or public
property without the owner's permission.
- Initial Investigations - The Health District works in cooperation with the
Washington Department of Ecology to investigate releases or potential releases of
chemicals to the environment.
- Rodent/Vector - Conditions that are attracting or feeding rodents or vectors,
causing a neighborhood infestation.
Conditions or situations NOT Investigated by the Health District
- Junk on Property or Code Violations. To report code violations regarding junk on
property, accumulations of wood, inoperable cars, car parts, appliances, and furniture,
please contact Snohomish County Code Enforcement or if you live within the city
limits, please contact your City government.
- Air Quality or Burn Ban Enforcement. For information on air quality forecast, burn
ban status, demolition information, asbestos project, and business related air emissions,
please contact the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. Please also contact your local
fire districts regarding burning permits.
- Water Quality Issues Regarding Point Source and Non-point Source Pollution and Storm
Water Pollution. Please contact Washington State Department of Ecology for water
quality issues regarding point source and non-point source pollution and storm water
pollution. Snohomish County Surface Water Management Division investigates possible
violations of water pollution ordinances. Please contact Snohomish County Surface
Water Management to report a water quality problem or for technical assistance.
- Hazardous Material Spill or Release. To report a spill of oil or hazardous materials,
please contact your local fire department or the Washington State Department of
Ecology.
- Pesticide Complaints. Complaints related to human health are investigated by Washington
State Department of Health. Please contact the Washington State Department of Agriculture
for complaints involving pesticides use, misuse, drift, damage, storage, and disposal.
How to File a Complaint
Contact the Health District at 425.339.5250 and file a complaint by giving all pertinent
information to the person with office duties for the day. You will need to provide
the location/address (including zip code) of the complaint; violation details; name
of person causing violation (if known); and your name and phone number (kept confidential).
If the violation concerns illegal dumping, provide the type of waste and volume.
You can request a complaint form by mail or download a pdf
complaint form. Mail or fax the completed form to the Health District. Please
note that complaints turned in anonymously may not be investigated.
The following are different types of solid waste and disposal options. For more
information contact the Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division, at 425.388.3425.
Demolition Waste
Demolition waste includes solid waste resulting from the demolition or razing of
buildings and other man-made structures. This includes but is not limited to: concrete,
brick, bituminous concrete, wood and masonry, composition roofing and roofing paper,
steel, minor amounts of other materials like copper and plaster.
Demolition waste can be recycled (see Recycling Options below). Demolition waste
can also be disposed of at Snohomish County solid waste facilities. There may be
limitations on size; contact Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division at
425.388.3425.
Garbage
Garbage is unwanted animal and vegetable waste resulting from the handling, preparation,
cooking and consumption of food, swill and carcasses of dead animals, and of such
a character and proportion as to be capable of attracting or providing food for
vectors (e.g. rats and flies.) Garbage or garbage combined with other solid waste
must be disposed of at an approved Snohomish County solid waste facility.
Click here for a list of solid waste facilities in Snohomish County.
Inert Waste
Inert waste includes, but is not limited to, cured concrete, brick, masonry, asphalt
materials, ceramic materials, uncontaminated glass and stainless steel and aluminum.
Inert waste must be disposed of in an approved inert waste landfill or other approved
solid waste facility. For information on approved inert waste landfills contact
our solid waste and toxics program at 425.339.5250.
Infectious Waste
Infectious waste is waste that may contain pathogens or other biologically active
materials in sufficient concentrations that exposure to the waste directly or indirectly,
creates a significant risk of disease. This includes:
- Animal wastes that are infected with or inoculated with human pathogenic microorganisms
infectious to humans.
- Human blood and blood products containing free-flowing blood and blood products.
- Cultures and stocks containing wastes infectious to humans.
- Human waste source biopsy material, tissues, and anatomical parts from surgery,
obstetrical procedures, and autopsy.
- Waste contaminated with blood, excretions, exudates, or secretions from humans or
animals who are isolated to protect others from highly communicable infectious diseases.
- Sharps waste such as needles, scalpel blades, lancets, and microscopic slides in
contact with the above mentioned wastes.
All infectious waste must be rendered non-infectious before disposal in the regular
solid waste stream. For information call our Solid Waste and Toxics Program at 425.339.5250.
Sharps and body fluids must be kept out of the waste stream even if treated and
are not accepted for disposal at Snohomish County solid waste facilities. A special
"Sharps Collector" is available from some local pharmacies and other service providers.
Once they are filled they can be returned to the store for safe disposal. There
are also a private infectious waste disposal companies.
Click here for information and locations.
Pet Waste
There are two options for dealing with pet waste:
- Bagging: Pet wastes should be double-bagged, with the air removed, before
being put into the garbage can. A maximum of 10 pounds of pet waste will be accepted
at any Snohomish County Transfer Station at a time.
- Flushing: Pet wastes (feces only) can be flushed down the toilet if it is
not connected to a private septic system. Do not put cat litter down the toilet
as it can clog the drain.
For more information on pet waste disposal
click here.
Recycling Options
The following are some items that can be recycled. For recycling options or information
please contact Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division at 425.388.3425
or
click here.
- Automotive Materials - motor oil, batteries, used antifreeze, oil filters, tires
- Cans - aluminum, tin
- Construction and remodeling debris
- Demolition Waste
- Glass - bottles, jars
- Latex paints and stains
- Major Appliances - refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters,
washers, dryers
- Paper - newspaper, mixed paper, corrugated cardboard
- Scrap metal (maximum 6 ft. length)
- Some plastics
Yard Debris
Yard debris includes, but is not limited to, vegetative matter resulting from landscaping
maintenance such as grass clippings, and tree and shrub trimmings.
There are a number of options for recycling yard debris. Most local garbage service
companies provide curbside yard debris collection. Composting yard debris at home
is another option. There are also commercial composting facilities to which homeowners
and landscapers can self-haul their yard debris. For information on those facilities
call Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Division at 425.388.3425 or
click here.
Types of activities requiring permits, permit application information and information
about Solid Waste Sites of Record.
Do I Need a Permit?
The Snohomish Health District issues permits for the following types of solid waste
activities in Snohomish County:
Solid Waste - Disposal Sites
- Inert waste landfill
- Limited purpose landfil
- Mixed municipal solid waste landfill
Solid Waste - Handling Facilities
- Baling and compaction systems
- Drop boxes
- Materials recovery
- Moderate risk waste
- Transfer stations
Solid Waste - Other Facilities
- Composting
- Energy recovery and incinerators
- Land application
- Piles used for storage and treatment
- Surface impoundments and tanks
Permit Application Information
Contact the Solid Waste & Toxics Program at 425.339.5250 for any questions concerning
the permit application process.
Any facility required to complete a solid waste permit application must also submit
the following:
Each facility will also submit one or more of the following activity-specific applications:
Complete the appropriate permit application forms and send them to:
Environmental Health Division - Solid Waste & Toxics Section
3020 Rucker Avenue, Suite 104
Everett, WA 98201-3900
Solid Waste Sites of Record
The Program inspects or monitors a number of solid waste disposal or utilization
sites in Snohomish County.
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Sites of Record (11)
A list of known solid waste sites in Snohomish County; list updated as changes occur.
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