AN ACT Relating to solid waste management; and amending RCW 81.77.030 and 81.77.040.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1. Section 4, chapter 295, Laws of 1961 as amended by section 1, chapter 105, Laws of 1965 ex. sess. and RCW 81.77.030 are each amended to read as follows:

The commission shall supervise and regulate every garbage and refuse collection company in this state,

(1) By fixing and altering its rates, charges, classifications, rules and regulations;

(2) By regulating the accounts, service, and safety of operations;

(3) By requiring the filing of annual and other reports and data;

(4) By supervising and regulating such persons or companies in all other matters affecting the relationship between them and the public which they serve;

(5) By reviewing compliance with local solid waste management plans through letters of compliance submitted by the county legislative authority. Before any enforcement order of the commission is issued concerning compliance with this subsection, the county legislative authority of the county within whose boundaries the franchisee's service area is located must comment to the commission in writing concerning the county legislative authority's perception of the adequacy of the service being provided by the franchisee. The county legislative authority shall also receive and forward all letters of complaint on services provided by the garbage collection franchise holder(s) in the county. Such letters shall become part of any rate, compliance, or any other hearing held by the commission on the issuance, revocation, or reissuance of a certificate as provided for in RCW 81.77.040.

The commission, on complaint made on its own motion or by an aggrieved party, at any time, after the holding of a hearing of which the holder of any certificate has had notice and an opportunity to be heard, and at which it shall be proven that the holder has wilfully violated or refused to observe any of the commission's orders, rules, or regulations, or has failed to operate as a garbage and refuse collection company for a period of at least one year preceding the filing of the complaint, may suspend, revoke, alter, or amend any certificate issued under the provisions of this chapter.

Sec. 2. Section 5, chapter 295, Laws of 1961 and RCW 81.77.040 are each amended to read as follows:

No garbage and refuse collection company shall hereafter operate for the hauling of garbage and refuse for compensation without first having obtained from the commission a certificate declaring that public convenience and necessity require such operation. The certificate shall require that the provisions of a solid waste management plan prepared under chapter 70.95 RCW shall be complied with by the holder of such certificate. A separate certificate may be granted to the same company or a different company for the collection of separated recyclable material in the same geographical area as the certificate for the collection of garbage and refuse.

Issuance of the certificate of necessity shall be determined upon, but not limited to, the following factors: The present service and the cost thereof for the contemplated area to be served; an estimate of the cost of the facilities to be utilized in the plant for garbage and refuse collection and disposal, sworn to before a notary public; a statement of the assets on hand of the person, firm, association or corporation which will be expended on the purported plant for garbage and refuse collection and disposal, sworn to before a notary public; a statement of prior experience, if any, in such field by the petitioner, sworn to before a notary public; and sentiment in the community contemplated to be served as to the necessity for such a service.

When an applicant requests a certificate to operate in a territory already served by a certificate holder under this chapter, the commission may, after hearing, issue the certificate only if the existing garbage and refuse collection company or companies serving the territory will not provide service to the satisfaction of the commission.

In all other cases, the commission may, with or without hearing, issue certificates, or for good cause shown refuse to issue them, or issue them for the partial exercise only of the privilege sought, and may attach to the exercise of the rights granted such terms and conditions as, in its judgment, the public convenience and necessity may require.

Any right, privilege, certificate held, owned, or obtained by a garbage and refuse collection company may be sold, assigned, leased, transferred, or inherited as other property, but only upon authorization by the commission.

Any garbage and refuse collection company which upon July 1, 1961 is operating under authority of a common carrier or contract carrier permit issued under the provisions of chapter 81.80 RCW shall be granted a certificate of necessity without hearing upon compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Such garbage and refuse collection company which has paid the plate fee and gross weight fees required by chapter 81.80 RCW for the year 1961 shall not be required to pay additional like fees under the provisions of this chapter for the remainder of such year.