It appears that the recently adopted Snohomish County Solid Waste Management Plan will punish some waste recyclers in the Maltby area. These are small businesses that support between 150 and 200 family wage jobs. And these companies also provide health care insurance and other benefits for their employees.
By recycling our waste, these are essentially “green jobs.” Is it not better that these companies recycle this waste rather than having their customers dump it as trash?
While one can admire the goals of the county Solid Waste Department, it appears that the “playing field” is not level for the Maltby recyclers. Why does the county charge these businesses fees that are 40-50 percent higher than other companies that utilize the county transfer facilities? And one also has to wonder why the Sheriff’s Office has a deputy constantly watching one of these facilities to make sure this recycled waste stays in Snohomish County.
It has also been noted that on occasion the Sheriff’s Office sends a deputy to the weigh station on I-90 near Cle Elum to make sure these recyclers are not transporting the recycled waste to Eastern Washington. Perhaps The Herald would check to see how many fines have been assessed versus the cost to county citizens for this type of enforcement.
It is hard to understand how those citizens who call the Sheriff’s Office because of a crime have to sometimes wait hours for a deputy while one is parked in Maltby checking on the recyclers.
Jack J. Miller
Woodinville
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
