Solid and Hazardous Waste Program

Business and household garbage must be stored in solid, covered, leak proof, watertight containers and removed from a property at least every two weeks. Improper storage and disposal of garbage can cause odors, pollution, and attract disease causing vectors like flies and rodents. Garbage must be disposed at a permitted solid waste facility. 

Storage requirements

• For all of Skagit County, garbage is required to be stored in a container that meets code requirements under Skagit County Code 12.16.150(3). 
  • Reusable containers shall be: durable, corrosion-resistant, water-tight, rodent proof, easily cleanable, and have a lid. 
• Hazardous substances, moderate risk waste, and used motor oil is required to be stored in a container that meets code requirements under Skagit County Code 12.16.210(3).
  • Containers shall be: compatible with the waste, securely covered at all times, in good condition with out leaks or corrosion, labeled to show contents. 

Hauling or removal requirements

• Garbage must be removed every 14 days (or more often if there a nuisance – like odors or rodents) see Skagit County Code 12.16.150(4).
• Self-Hauling: If you live in unincorporated areas of Skagit County, you are welcome to self-haul your garbage to the nearest Transfer Station. Loads must be secured during transport. 
• Curbside pick-up: For unincorporated areas of Skagit County, contact WM for service areas. If you live within the City limits of Anacortes, Mount Vernon, or Sedro-Woolley contact your city's Solid Waste Division for curbside pick up options. If you live within the city limits of Burlington, contact WM. 
• Moderate risk waste, used oil and hazardous substances shall not be accumulated in an uncontrolled fashion or in quantities that, in the opinion of the Health Officer, present a potential threat to human health or the environment (Skagit County Code 12.16.210(4))

Pollution Prevention Assistance Partnership

Learn how to prevent pollution from your business activities. From auto body shops to veterinary clinics, we can help you handle your wastes correctly and protect stormwater from contamination. Be a pollution prevention star today!

About the Regional Partnership

The Pollution Prevention Partnership (previously Local Source Control) is comprised of representatives from cities, counties, and health districts. Funding assistance is provided by the Department of Ecology and allows the program to provide free hands-on-assistance to Small Quantity Generators (typically small businesses and organizations) who wish to improve their practices by reducing impacts to human health and the environment.

This is accomplished through technical assistance visits that are designed to reduce or eliminate hazardous waste and pollutants at the source. A local pollution prevention specialist will meet with your organization to evaluate current activities and practices. They will discuss concerns, observations, solutions, and work directly to help solve common challenges around dangerous wastes, stormwater, solid waste, and spill prevention. This collaborative process limits liability, reduces risks, and improved work environments. Learn more about Department of Ecology’s role here.

Pollution Prevention in Skagit County

Skagit County Public Health has been part of the Pollution Prevention Partnership since 2008. Helping businesses and governments manage dangerous waste and stormwater is a high priority for Skagit County government.

Our goal is to protect the health of employees, neighbors and our water ways. Pollution prevention solutions are often simple and cost effective. Sometimes it just takes a little knowledge and a small behavior change to stop pollution from a business. Sometimes efforts are more expensive and more involved. In either case, we can help you move forward.

The Pollution Prevention Program offers no-cost, voluntary technical assistance site visits to businesses to evaluate business practices and provide information on pollution prevention. Preventing pollution at the source will keep our water ways clean and improve our public health.

Our pollution prevention specialists can:

• Help you implement best management practices for stormwater
• Explain waste regulations that apply to your business
• Help you locate disposal resources
• Provide materials such as spill kits

Request a Visit Here

Get started with these resources:

📄Do I Produce a Dangerous or Hazardous Waste?
📄Storing Dangerous Waste
📄Labeling Dangerous Waste
📄Recycling, Reducing, and Properly Disposing of Waste

Solid Waste Facility Oversight

A solid waste facility is any site, building, or system designed and used to collect, store, transfer, process, treat, recycle, or dispose of solid waste. Skagit County Public Health is the regulatory authority for facilities in Skagit County.

Closed Landfills

In Skagit County, as in many areas of the country, solid waste was historically placed out of sight in low areas, such as down riverbanks, in tidal flats, or in old gravel pits.

Landfill History 

In Skagit County, as in many areas of the country, solid waste was historically placed out of sight in low areas, such as down riverbanks, in tidal flats, or in old gravel pits. We have known for many decades now that these types of locations were very bad choices for solid waste disposal. During the 1950's and 1960's dumps were often burned on a daily basis to reduce the volume of garbage and reduce rat attraction. In the 1970's the Environmental Protection Agency and state and local governments began to regulate solid waste disposal to prevent pollution of groundwater, surface water, and the air. Most landfills in Skagit County were closed for use by the mid to late 1970's. After that time, only a few landfills were used that could comply with the new requirements.

Landfill Locations

Skagit County no longer has active solid waste landfills. Because we have such an abundance of surface water and very shallow groundwater it is difficult to safely site a landfill in the county. The Health Department does maintain records and location information on the abandoned and closed landfills in the county. Drinking water wells are prohibited from being drilled within 1000 feet of a property containing a landfill. If you are interested in further information please call 360-416-1500.

Monitoring and Remediation

Skagit County Public Works performs routine groundwater monitoring around three closed county landfills. The Health Department reviews this monitoring data and performs inspections of closed landfills. If an abandoned landfill is found to pose a threat to human health or the environment the Health Department will work with the property owners to mitigate this threat.

Households

Many chemicals that you may use or have stored in and around your household can need special disposal as hazardous waste to avoid harming human health and the environment. 

How do I know I have household hazardous waste? 

Read all labels before disposing of any container that is not completely empty. Watch for words like Hazard, Danger, Caution, Toxic, Poision, Corrosion, Flammable, or Reactive. Review all of your household and yard care chemicals at least twice per year and properly dispose of those you will not use or that may be leaking.

What are my disposal options for households in Skagit County?

For convenient proper disposal of household hazardous waste, Skagit County Public Works Household Hazardous Waste Facility accepts hazardous waste from Skagit County Residents. See Public Work's webpage for hours, quantity limits, and types of wastes accepted.

How do I protect myself and my household from household hazardous waste?

Use the following methods to reduce your risk from hazardous chemicals:

• Buy only what you need.
• Substitute products for safer options (see below) for less harmful alternatives to common household products.
• Store hazardous chemicals in leak proof, sealed containers safe from children, pets, and weather exposure. If possible, keep chemicals in their original, labeled containers. If containers are degrading, place the container within a second sealed container and dispose through the county collection facility.
• Use chemicals only according to manufacturer's directions. Do not pour any chemicals down the drain.
• Fuels and petroleum oils are hazardous chemicals and need to be stored and treated as such. Waste motor oil should be collected and disposed at a recycling center or the county collection facility.
• Always wear appropriate gloves and use adequate ventilation as directed on product labels when mixing and using chemicals.

Safer Choice Resources:
EPA Safer Choice 
Washington Department of Ecology Healthy Home Tips

Household Hazardous Waste Take Back Programs:

For house paint, primers, stains, and varnish: Find a Paint Care Collection Site

For mercury-containing lights: Find a Light Recycle Collection Site

For desktops, laptops, monitors, and televisions: Find a E-Cycle Collection Site

Commercial or Business Hazardous Waste

Businesses are required to manage their hazardous waste under Washington's Dangerous Waste Regulations and Skagit County Code. If you have questions about how to store, manage, or dispose of business waste, contact our Pollution Prevention Assistance Program. 

Visit Public Health's Emergency Preparedness Page

Natural disasters can lead to huge needs for solid and hazardous waste disposal. Normal transportation and disposal options will very likely be compromised, leading to delays in disposal. Emergency Management, Public Works Departments, and the Health Department will work to select safe intermediate solid waste disposal locations until the system can return to normal. 

In your household and business it is important to prioritize waste containment and disposal according to public health risk as follow:

1. Hazardous chemicals must be contained to prevent leaks to the ground or water. Use garbage cans, plastic or metal totes, garbage bags, etc. to provide extra containment to any chemicals that are at risk of leaking. Make sure you do not place incompatible chemicals together (do not put bleach and ammonia in the same container). If chemicals have leaked, scoop up impacted soil or other materials and contain in a sealed container or bags. Use information provided through Emergency Shelters or local public works for disposal options or, if the regular solid waste system is functioning, use the Household Hazardous Waste Collection facility for disposal.
2. Animal carcasses should be buried or otherwise disposed as soon as possible. Ideally carcasses should be buried under three feet of soil. Burial locations should be located away from surface water and drinking water sources. In a large disaster, animal carcass disposal locations may be chosen by emergency management leaders and the Health Department. Check for information through Emergency Shelters or local public works.
3. Food waste and other putrescible (rotting) wastes need to be contained. Waste food from your refrigerator or freezer needs to be contained and disposed carefully to prevent attracting rodents and other vectors.
4. Moldy water damaged materials should be contained in plastic bags or other closed containers and removed from the living space. These items should not attract rodents and can wait for disposal at a later date if the solid waste collection system is down.
5. Demolition waste can be piled in locations on your property that will not pose a threat to children pending removal by public works or other emergency service providers. Care should be taken with sharps like broken glass or metals, contain these within other solid containers if possible. Loose insulation should be bagged. This waste will not decay quickly and can wait for community wide cleanup for disposal. Check Emergency Shelters or public works departments for information on demolition waste cleanup days.