Section 70A.205.540 - MANDATED ORGANICS MANAGEMENT(1) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, in each jurisdiction that implements a local solid waste plan under RCW 70A.205.040: (a) Beginning April 1, 2027, source-separated organic solid waste collection services are required to be provided year-round to: (i) All single-family residents; and(ii) Nonresidential customers that generate more than.25 cubic yards per week of organic materials for management; (b)(i) The department may, by waiver, reduce the collection frequency requirements in (a) of this subsection for the collection of dehydrated food waste or to address food waste managed through other circumstances or technologies that will reduce the volume or odor, or both, of collected food waste.(ii) All organic solid waste collected from single-family residents and businesses under this subsection must be managed through organic materials management;(c) Beginning April 1, 2030, the source-separated organic solid waste collection services specified in (a) of this subsection must be provided to customers on a nonelective basis, except that a jurisdiction may grant an exemption to a customer that certifies to the jurisdiction that the customer is managing organic material waste on-site or self-hauling its own organic material waste for organic materials management;(d) Beginning April 1, 2030, each jurisdiction's source-separated organic solid waste collection service must include the acceptance of food waste year-round. The jurisdiction may choose to collect food waste source-separated from other organic materials or may collect food waste commingled with other organic materials; and(e) Beginning April 1, 2030, all persons, when using curbside collection for disposal, may use only source-separated organic solid waste collection services to discard unwanted organic materials. By January 1, 2027, the department must develop guidance under which local jurisdictions may exempt persons from this requirement if organic materials will be managed through an alternative mechanism that provides equal or better environmental outcomes. Nothing in this section precludes the ability of a person to use on-site composting, the diversion of organic materials to animal feed, self-haul organic materials to a facility, or other means of beneficially managing unwanted organic materials. For the purposes of this subsection (1)(e), "person" or "persons" does not include multifamily residences.(2) A jurisdiction may charge and collect fees or rates for the services provided under subsection (1) of this section, consistent with the jurisdiction's authority to impose fees and rates under chapters 35.21, 35A.21, 36.58, and 36.58A RCW.(3)(a) Except as provided in (e) of this subsection, the requirements of this section do not apply in a jurisdiction if the department determines that the following apply:(i) The jurisdiction disposed of less than 5,000 tons of solid waste in the most recent year for which data is available; or(ii) The jurisdiction has a total population of less than 25,000 people .
(b) The requirements of this section do not apply: (i) In census tracts that have a population density of less than 75 people per square mile that are serviced by the jurisdiction and located in unincorporated portions of a county, as determined by the department, in counties not planning under chapter 36.70A RCW; (ii) In census tracts that have a population density of greater than 75 people per square mile, where the census tract includes jurisdictions that meet any of the conditions in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection, that are serviced by the jurisdiction and located in unincorporated portions of a county, as determined by the department, in counties not planning under chapter 36.70A RCW;(iii) Outside of urban growth areas designated pursuant to RCW 36.70A.110 in unincorporated portions of a county planning under chapter 36.70A RCW;(iv) Inside of unincorporated urban growth areas for jurisdictions planning under chapter 36.70A RCW that meet any of the conditions in (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection; and(v) In unincorporated urban growth areas in counties with an unincorporated population of less than 25,000 people.(c) A jurisdiction that collects organic materials, but that does not collect organic materials on a year-round basis as of January 1, 2024, is not required to provide year-round organic solid waste collection services if it provides those services at least 26 weeks annually.(d) In addition to the exemptions in (a) through (c) of this subsection, the department may issue a renewable waiver to jurisdictions or portions of a jurisdiction under this subsection for up to five years, based on consideration of factors including the distance to organic materials management facilities, the sufficiency of the capacity to manage organic materials at facilities to which organic materials could feasibly and economically be delivered from the jurisdiction, and restrictions in the transport of organic materials under chapter 17.24 RCW. The department may adopt rules to specify the type of information that a waiver applicant must submit to the department and to specify the department's process for reviewing and approving waiver applications.(e) Beginning January 1, 2030, the department may adopt a rule to require that the provisions of this section apply in the jurisdictions identified in (b) through (d) of this subsection, but only if the department determines that the goals established in RCW 70A.205.007(1) have not or will not be achieved.(4) Any city that newly begins implementing an independent solid waste plan under RCW 70A.205.040 after July 1, 2022, must meet the requirements of subsection (1) of this section.(5) Nothing in this section affects the authority or duties of the department of agriculture related to pest and noxious weed control and quarantine measures under chapter 17.24 RCW.(6) No penalty may be assessed on an individual or resident for the improper disposal of organic materials under subsection (1) of this section in a noncommercial or residential setting.(7) The department must adopt new rules or amend existing rules adopted under this chapter establishing permit requirements for organic materials management facilities requiring a solid waste handling permit addressing contamination associated with incoming food waste feedstocks and finished products, for environmental benefit.Amended by 2024 c 341,§ 301, eff. 6/6/2024.Added by 2022 c 180,§ 102, eff. 6/9/2022.Findings-Intent-Scope of authority of chapter 180, Laws of 2022- 2022 c 180: See notes following RCW 70A.205.007.