This bill amends existing laws related to solid waste management in Washington State by establishing a new local government solid waste assistance account and modifying the solid waste collection tax. The current solid waste collection tax rate is set at 3.6 percent, and beginning January 1, 2026, an additional tax will be imposed on solid waste collection services, which will gradually increase over five years, starting at 0.5 percent and reaching 2.5 percent by the fifth year. The bill also specifies that taxes collected above the 3.6 percent rate will be deposited into the newly created local government solid waste assistance account.

The local government solid waste assistance account will be managed by the state treasurer and will not be subject to standard allotment procedures, allowing for direct disbursement of funds. The funds will be distributed annually to eligible counties and cities, with 50 percent allocated equally among counties and the other 50 percent distributed based on population. Recipients of these funds are required to use them to implement their comprehensive solid waste management plans as mandated by existing state law. The bill aims to enhance local governments' capacity to manage solid waste effectively while providing a structured funding mechanism.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 82.18.020, 82.18.040