SENATE BILL REPORT

                           SHB 1100

  AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS, MARCH 24, 1993

Brief Description:  Imposing a fee on waste transported without a cover.

SPONSORS: House Committee on Environmental Affairs (originally sponsored by Representatives Bray, J. Kohl, Rust and Leonard)

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended. 

     Signed by Senators Fraser, Chairman; Deccio, McCaslin, Moore, Sutherland, and Talmadge.

Staff:  Shannon Murphy (786‑7483)

Hearing Dates: March 22, 1993; March 24, 1993

BACKGROUND:

Litter surveys from 1982 to 1987 show that the amount of litter from vehicles with unsecured loads has remained steady at around 40 percent of all litter.  A 1990 litter survey shows that this type of "non-deliberate" littering has increased to nearly 50 percent of all litter. 

Current state law prohibits littering which is punishable as a misdemeanor with a fine of not less than $50 and eight to 16 hours of litter pickup duty.  State law governing the "rules of the road" requires trucks carrying dirt, sand, or gravel to have a cover or to maintain at least six inches of space between the material and the side of the vehicle.  State law does not require a cover for vehicles transporting any other waste materials.

Yakima County and the city of Richland have adopted ordinances requiring a person arriving at the landfill without a cover on their waste to pay a surcharge.  Both local governments report the measure has reduced litter, especially on the roads leading to the landfill.

SUMMARY:

A city or county with a transfer station or landfill in its jurisdiction must adopt an ordinance establishing fees for a person arriving at a transfer station or landfill without adequately covering or securing a vehicle's waste.  The following minimum fee schedule is established:  $3 for loads of 0.1 to 3 cubic yards; $5 for loads of 3.1 to 10 cubic yards; and $10 for loads over 10 cubic yards.

The city or county ordinance may provide exemptions for waste that is unlikely to spill from a vehicle.  Fees collected for unsecured loads shall be deposited with the city or county in which the landfill or transfer station is located.  Vehicles transporting dirt, sand, or gravel are not subject to local covered load ordinances.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The term "staffed" is added to clarify that only staffed transfer stations or landfills will collect a fee for uncovered loads.  The specified fee levels are deleted.  It is clarified that fees collected for loads arriving at a landfill or transfer station uncovered or unsecured are deposited no less than quarterly with the city or county in which the landfill or transfer station is located.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  available

TESTIMONY FOR:

Littering from unsecured loads on roadways leading to landfills and transfer stations is a growing problem.  Not only is litter unsightly, but in many cases unsecured or uncovered loads can present a safety hazard from flying debris.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:  None

TESTIFIED:  Representative Bray, prime sponsor; Elizabeth Schrag, Washington Citizens for Recycling (pro); Kathleen Collins, Association of Washington Cities (pro); Bill Vogler, Association of Washington Counties (pro)