Skagit County, WA Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- SCC Chapter 12.18
- Main transfer/recycling site
- 14104 Ovenell Road, Mount Vernon
- Source-separated recyclables purity floor
- 90% recyclable material by volume
- C&D debris recycling requirement
- At least 75% recycled or energy-recovered
- Commercial violation class
- Class 1 civil infraction
- Noncommercial violation class
- Class 2 civil infraction
- Operating authority
- Skagit County Department of Public Works
Summary
Skagit County requires solid waste generated in the unincorporated area to go to a designated disposal site under SCC 12.18.040, but exempts source-separated recyclables collected through a curbside recycling program if the material delivered to a processor is at least 90 percent recyclable by volume, keeping curbside and drop-off recycling legal outside the mandatory disposal system.
12.18.040 Unlawful to remove solid waste from County. (1) Except as permitted by State law or as provided by virtue of this Chapter, it is unlawful for any person to deliver or deposit any solid waste generated or collected within the unincorporated areas of the County at a facility that is not designated as a disposal site in Skagit County. The following types of solid wastes and facilities, provided they comply with all applicable solid waste and land use laws, regulations, and ordinances, are exempt from this requirement: (a) Source-separated, designated recyclable materials: (i) Collected from residences and businesses as part of a curbside recycling program and delivered to a facility engaged in the recycling of designated recyclable materials; ... (iii) Delivered to a permitted intermediate solid waste handling facility for processing; provided, that such source-separated designated recyclable materials hauled to and/or received by a permitted intermediate solid waste handling facility for processing shall contain a minimum of ninety (90) percent recyclable materials by volume.
Full Breakdown
005. 030. 040 makes it unlawful to deliver or deposit county-generated solid waste anywhere other than a designated disposal site, but carves out an exemption for designated recyclable material, meaning waste the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan lists as recyclable and that is actually recycled. Source-separated recyclables qualify if they are collected from a curbside recycling program and delivered to a recycling facility, delivered directly by the generator to a facility that markets source-separated recyclables, or hauled to a permitted intermediate handling facility, provided that load is at least 90 percent recyclable material by volume.
Non-source-separated recyclable material delivered to a facility that retrieves recyclables from mixed waste is also exempt. Residual waste left after processing is not exempt and must go to a designated site, except that construction and demolition debris residue can go straight to an intermodal facility if the processor pays Skagit County a per-ton fee and markets at least 75 percent of the debris for recycling or energy recovery, capping disposal at 25 percent by weight, subject to Public Works audit and verification. 050; other violations of the chapter are Class 2 civil infractions.
Violations & Fines
All violations of Chapter 12.18 are declared public nuisances subject to abatement. Under SCC 12.18.050, a commercial violation of the ban on removing solid waste from the county, SCC 12.18.040, is a Class 1 civil infraction; any other chapter violation, including missing the 90 percent recyclable-content or 75 percent construction-debris-recycling thresholds, is a Class 2 civil infraction under Chapter 7.80 RCW.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to take my recycling to the county transfer station?
Where does unincorporated Skagit County send its solid waste?
What happens to construction debris that isn't recycled?
What's the penalty for violating the county's recycling and disposal rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skagit County
Compare Skagit County to another location·View the Washington trash & recycling overview
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