The solid waste permit page discusses the general permit application process. The specific permit application process and requirements are found in WAC 173-350-710 and WAC 173-350-715 and/or WAC 173-351-720 (for municipal solid waste landfills).
- Applicants should contact the local jurisdictional health department to determine if there are additional requirements or fees associated with the proposed facility application.
- Contact Ecology Facilities Specialist Marni Solheim at marni.solheim@ecy.wa.gov or 509-329-3564 for additional information.
For specific requirements for each facility type go to Chapter 173-350 WAC for Solid Waste Handling Standards or to Chapter 173-351 WAC for Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills. Facility Checklists (see section below) can assist in the preparation and review of the permit application.
Annual reports are required of municipal solid waste landfills permitted under Chapter 173-351 WAC, Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills, and various facilities that fall under the requirements of Chapter 173-350 WAC, Solid Waste Handling Standards. The following annual report forms are to be completed by the facility and returned to the appropriate local jurisdictional health department and Ecology by April 1 of each year:
SAW and Online Solid Waste Annual Report Instructions
Online reporting is now available for Recyclers and Material Recovery Facilities. All other report types must be submitted using the forms listed above. Online versions of those reports will be available in the future.
Step 1 — Sign up for a SecureAccess Washington (SAW) account
If you already have a SAW account, go to Step 2 - Add service to your account.
- Go to the SAW homepage.
- Click “SIGN UP!” to create a username and password.
- Fill in the form with your information and click “SUBMIT."
- Check your email for a confirmation, and click the link in the email to activate your account.
- SAW will notify you that your account is activated. Continue to Step 2.
Step 2 — Add service to your account
- Login to SAW and click, "ADD A NEW SERVICE.”
- Click “I have been given a code.”
- Enter the code “OnlineReporting” as one word with no space and press “SUBMIT.”
- You will be automatically approved and receive a confirmation email. Press “OK.”
Step 3 — Request access to your facility
- Click “WA Solid Waste and Biosolids Annual Reports” in your list of services. Click “Continue.”
- Go to the Facility Access Requests tab, enter the Facility ID number, and click “Request Access.” If you do not know your Facility ID number, contact Dan Weston at daniel.weston@ecy.wa.gov or 360-407-6409.
- Your request to register has been sent to Ecology. Approval could take one or more business days. You will receive a confirmation email when your request has been approved, at which point you can proceed to Step 4.
Step 4 — Submit your annual solid waste report
- Login to SAW.
- Under “My Secure Services” click on "WA Solid Waste and Biosolids Annual Reports” and click “CONTINUE.”
- Click the facility name under your list of approved facilities for the report you intend to fill out. Click “Prepare/Submit” under the Action heading. The report status will say “Due.”
- Review your Facility Details and make edits if necessary. Click “Save and Continue.”
- Review your Facility Contact Information and make edits if necessary. This should be the primary contact associated with your facility. Click “Save and Continue.”
- Fill out the Survey Questions and click “Save and Continue.” If you did not operate in the reporting year, you will be taken to the final review page. (Step 10)
- Fill out the Incoming Materials and click “Save and Continue.”
- Fill out the Materials Destination and Final Use information and click “Save and Continue.”
- Review the information and confirm it is accurate and complete. Press “Back” to make changes. Once you have verified your information, click “Submit Report.”
- Fill out the contact information for the person who prepared the report. This can differ from the primary contact listed earlier. Click “Submit Report.”
- You will be taken back to your facility page. From here, you can review and download the report you submitted by clicking "Download." The Status will now say "Submitted & Reviewing."
- If you are a permitted or permit exempt facility, you need to send a copy or your report to your local health jurisdiction.
- If you have other reports to fill out, press “Home” to return to your list of facilities. If not, you have completed your reporting requirement.
The Solid Waste Handling Standards allow for a "permit deferral" under WAC 173-350-710(8). The jurisdictional health department, at its discretion along with our approval, can waive the requirement of a solid waste permit for a facility by deferring to other air, water or environmental permits issued for the facility which provide an equivalent or superior level of environmental protection. The owner or operator can apply for a permit deferral using the following form:
Chapter 173-350 WAC, Solid Waste Handling Standards, specifies that certain solid waste facilities are exempt from solid waste permitting, if they meet requirements and operating procedures as identified in the rule. These facilities include recycling, material recovery, composting, piles of agricultural, inert or wood waste, and some moderate risk waste handling activities. Send a copy of your Notification of Exemption form to both your regional Ecology office and to your local health department or district.
One of the requirements is for the facility to notify Ecology and the local jurisdictional health department of their intent to operate as a facility exempt under Chapter 173-350 WAC. For most exempt facilities, there is also an annual reporting requirement.
To assist facilities, Ecology has developed a notification form, Form ECY 070-493 - Notification of Exemption from a Solid Waste Permit.