Marlene Feist, 509.625.6505
Wednesday, January 22, 2020 at 10:49 a.m.
The City of Spokane and Spokane County transfer stations will start charging citizens who bring in unsecured loads of trash or yard waste starting Monday, Jan. 27.
Staff at the City’s Waste to Energy Facility and the County’s North Side and Valley Transfer Stations have been educating drivers on the proper way to secure loads since early last summer. Starting Jan. 27, fees of $5 to $10 will be issued for vehicles that do not meet these standards when they visit these facilities.
Those fines are small compared to the $216 ticket that Washington State Patrol can issue for drivers with unsecured loads on our highways.
Hundreds of customers go over the scales each day at these facilities, and loads that are not covered or secured can lead to litter and accidents on our highways and local streets. More than 12 million pounds of litter come from vehicles each year.
A load is secure when nothing can shift or blow out. It can be covered by a tarp, but does not have to be as long as ropes or netting contains everything inside the vehicle.
City of Spokane residents using the Waste to Energy Facility can call 3-1-1 for information. For information on the North County and Valley transfer stations, call (509) 477.6800 or go to www.spokanecountysolidwaste.org.
