Garbage rates may increase for south county

LYNNWOOD — Some garbage customers in southwest and eastern Snohomish County could see their rates go up starting July 1.

A state commission will decide whether to allow Allied Waste Services’ proposed increase of about 4 percent for most customers and 9 percent or higher for some others.

The changes would affect 16,700 residential customers in Lynnwood, Edmonds, Woodway and surrounding unincorporated areas, plus others near the cities of Monroe, Sultan and Gold Bar. All should have received notices in the mail.

“Some would experience an increase, some will experience a rate decrease, it just depends on what your combination of service is,” said Jeff Borgida, a general manager for the company.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is scheduled to consider the rate changes at a June 28 meeting. The three-member commission, however, is likely to postpone a decision until July to give staff more time for research.

“The staff will not have completed their investigation by the June 28 open meeting,” commission spokeswoman Marilyn Meehan said. “So it will be extended and brought back when they are finished with their investigation.”

In a letter to customers, Allied states that it “has experienced increases in all of the costs key to delivering our services.” That includes labor, trucks and fuel, trash containers and more, Allied spokeswoman Anne Laughlin said.

Allied must prove its need for the increase to the commission, which can accept the changes, modify them or reject them completely.

The commission may allow the rate changes to take effect before reaching a decision. Should that happen, customers would get a refund if the commission later decides to lower rates.

The proposal would give Allied Waste of Lynnwood an extra $482,000 in yearly operating revenue, Meehan said. Allied’s last increase for the Lynnwood service area was in 2010.

Of the affected Snohomish County customers, 12,000 receive pickup for garbage, yard waste and recycling. Their rates would rise by about 4 percent on average.

Many of the remaining residential customers receive only garbage and recycling pickup. They would see an average increase of 8 percent to 9 percent. Changes to other services vary.

About 1,000 Snohomish County commercial customers would be affected as well.

The commission is accepting mailed, emailed or phoned-in comments about the proposed changes until June 25. People also have the opportunity to speak at the commission’s meeting later this month in Olympia.

Meehan said that of the 15 requests the commission had received as of early last week, 13 were against the rate hike and two undecided.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com.

How to comment

The UTC is accepting comments by phone, email or letter until Monday about Allied Waste of Lynnwood’s proposed garbage-rate changes.

Mail to: Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission; PO Box 47250; Olympia, WA 98504.

Email: comments@utc.wa.gov.

Phone: 888-333-9882.

In person: People also have the chance to comment at the open meeting scheduled for 9:30 a.m. June 28 at UTC headquarters, 1300 S. Evergreen Park Drive SW, room 206, Olympia, WA 98504.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Kelli Littlejohn, who was 11 when her older sister Melissa Lee was murdered, speaks to a group of investigators and deputies to thank them for bringing closure to her family after over 30 years on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘She can rest in peace’: Jury convicts Bothell man in 1993 killing

Even after police arrested Alan Dean in 2020, it was unclear if he would stand trial. He was convicted Thursday in the murder of Melissa Lee, 15.

Ariel Garcia, 4, was last seen Wednesday morning in an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Dr. (Photo provided by Everett Police)
Everett police searching for missing child, 4

Ariel Garcia was last seen Wednesday at an apartment in the 4800 block of Vesper Drive. The child was missing under “suspicious circumstances.”

The rezoned property, seen here from the Hillside Vista luxury development, is surrounded on two sides by modern neighborhoods Monday, March 25, 2024, in Lake Stevens, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Despite petition, Lake Stevens OKs rezone for new 96-home development

The change faced resistance from some residents, who worried about the effects of more density in the neighborhood.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.