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Council waives landfill fees for victims of illegal dumping
Summary
Dunn initiative provides incentive for owners to clean up properties
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Victims of illegal dumping on their property now won’t have to pay for the irresponsible actions of others, following unanimous action by the Metropolitan King County Council to waive the fees for taking such refuse to County transfer stations.“This is going to lead to less garbage on the side of the road,” said Councilmember Reagan Dunn, who sponsored the measure. “Allowing victims of illegal dumping to clean up without having to pay the fees will empower people to keep their neighborhoods clear of garbage and discourage more dumping. It’s a fair incentive offered by the County to enable citizens to help keep their community clean.”
The ordinance focuses on property owners whose land is dumped upon where no offender can be identified. Owners cleaning up their properties will have their King County Solid Waste Division tipping fees waived if they can prove they were the victim of an illegal dumping. Such fees range from a minimum of $17.25 up to $82 per ton.
The fee waiver is the second part of Dunn’s illegal dumping initiative. Last October, the Council adopted legislation proposed by Dunn and County Executive Ron Sims toughening penalties on offenders and requiring illegal dumpers to pay higher fees for restitution, with a portion of that payment going to the property owner whose land had been used as a dumping ground.
“Illegal dumping is a significant health issue, and it detracts from the natural beauty for which King County is well known,” said Sims. “I commend the County Council for taking this important step that will help ensure public and environmental health.”
Illegal dump sites can attract rats and can become a breeding ground for disease. In 2006 and 2007, illegal dumping reports in King County numbered in the hundreds. However, actual numbers may be much higher due to the low percentage of dump sites that are actually reported.
Read the legislation