Garbage & Recycling Advisory Committee Meeting, May 21st, 2026

The Washington County, Oregon Garbage & Recycling Advisory Committee met on May 21, 2026, to discuss the annual solid waste rate review and related operational issues. The committee reviewed staff recommendations for rate adjustments across various service categories, including a 3.5% increase for urban canned cart service, a 5.6% increase for rural canned cart service, a 4.5% increase for dropbox and compactor services, and a significant 24.9% increase for medical waste collection due to increased disposal and transportation costs. The committee also discussed the financial impacts of the Recycling Modernization Act, the reduced rate program for eligible households, and challenges such as rising fuel, labor, and insurance costs faced by haulers. Several public and industry representatives provided testimony supporting the proposed rates and highlighted operational efficiencies and cost pressures. The committee voted to recommend the proposed rate increases to the Board of Commissioners with additional recommendations to conduct a longer-term strategic review of the solid waste system, including a feasibility study on residential rate structures and modernization efforts to stabilize future rates.