Solid Waste (Garbage) Complaints

The full Skagit County Code Chapter 12.16 Solid Waste Handling and Facilties can be viewed here. 

A summary of each solid waste code violation can be found here. 

Please be prepared to provide the following information:

• What is the problem? Describe the type of nuisance and how often it happens
• Where is the problem? Street address or cross streets, plus city and zip code
• What kind of material is involved? What type of garbage or waste?
• How much is there?

Sharing your name and contact information helps us to follow-up with you about your concern. Skagit County Public Health does not share the identity or origin of a complaint during an investigation.

However, all complaint information is subject to public disclosure requests under the Public Records Act (Chapter 42.56 RCW). This means anyone may request information about the complaint. Additionally, your name must be disclosed as part of any legal proceedings or court orders concerning the complaint. 

Skagit County Public Health will investigate and validate if a solid waste code violation is present.

Response times are dependent on the completeness of the complaint, the subject of the complaint, and staffing availability.

If a solid waste violation is found, Skagit County Public Health will begin our internal enforcement process.

Skagit County Public Health does not send updates to complainants.

You may contact our office for information regarding the complaint. We may ask you to submit a public records request through our Records Department. 

"Failure to control garbage" is the accumulation or scattering of garbage on the grounds of a residence or business outside of appropriate covered storage containers (Skagit County Code 12.16.060)

A failure to control garbage violation can include:

• Garbage that is stored in bags, but is not stored in a water resistant, rodent resistant container with a lid.
• Garbage (bagged or unbagged) stored in a back of a truck.
• Scattered garbage on a property.
• Garbage that has been accumulating on a property for over fourteen days. 

Garbage includes all putrescible materials including animal wastes, food waste, yard waste, and dead animals. 

Illegal dumping is disposing of waste in an improper or unapproved manner. Any person who dumps or causes to be dumped any solid waste in an unapproved manner is in violation of Skagit County Code 12.16.080.

Disposal of solid waste at a permitted solid waste facility is the only approved disposal method in Skagit County.

Illegal dumping can include:

• Burying waste
• Burning waste
• Dumping waste on private or public property

All Skagit County poultry operators are encouraged to develop best management practices for their farming operations. 

A poultry operator must develop best management practices and receive approval from Skagit County Public Health for their operation when they are the subject of verifiable complaints relative to:

• Fly breeding
• Excessive odor
• Contamination of ground or surface waters
• Unnecessary spills 

See Skagit County Code 12.16.390 for best management practices. 

Prompt and proper disposal of dead animals is necessary to reduce the risk to the public from fly-borne disease organisms, contaminated ground water or surface water, and nuisance odors of degrading animals.

A dead animal disposal violation can include:

• Dead animal carcass not removed or disposed of within 24 hours
• Incorrect burial of animal carcasses
• Dead animals disposed of in an un approved manner

The owner of the dead animal is responsible for disposal. Where the owner is unknown, then property owner is then responsible for disposal. 

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.

A solid waste facility violation can include:

• Nuisance odors
• Excessive dust
• Discharging or depositing waste in an unapproved manner
• A facility operating outside of their approved permit issued by Skagit County Public Health

Learn about solid waste facilities' here.

To request a copy of a facility's permit, submit a formal records request through our Records Department.