Possible Changes to Jefferson County’s Recycling Program

Background

Jefferson County Public Works contracts with a private company to provide recycling services for East Jefferson County. This service is available to residents and visitors outside the City of Port Townsend. The contractor:

  • Collects recyclable materials from five drop-off sites
  • Processes them at the Transfer Station’s recycling center
  • Markets the materials and delivers them to buyers

Jefferson County is one of only 2 counties left in Washington that still asks customers to separate their recyclables and the last that we know of that offers unstaffed, 24/7 drop-off locations

Quilcene Recycle Bins

What’s the Problem?

Several challenges are making the current program unsustainable:

  • Since China stopped accepting recyclables from the US in 2017, prices for recyclable materials have dropped substantially.
  • Up to 30% of the materials we receive are contaminated with material that isn’t recyclable, which further reduces the value.
  • Only cardboard comes close to recovering the processing cost.
  • The state grant we rely on to help fund recycling is now half what it was 10 years ago.
  • People continue to leave trash at unstaffed drop-off sites—over 41 tons in 2024.

Funding for the recycling program comes from the fee charged for garbage disposal at the County’s transfer station and rural drop box in Quilcene. In 2024, this subsidy cost about $325,000, or roughly $14 of the current $171 per ton tipping fee.

To make things worse, long-term subsidies like these have created a distorted market- one of the reasons the regional market for recycled glass failed in late 2024- which ended glass collection in Jefferson County.

For all these reasons, it’s time to reconsider how we manage recycling in Jefferson County.

What’s the Recommended Fix?

The Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) reviewed these issues with Public Works staff in 2024 public meetings. The Board of County Commissioners reviewed these issues in two joint public meetings with SWAC in March and April, 2025.

 Public Works recommends:

    • Ending the tipping fee subsidy
    • Privatizing the recycling program

This would mean:

  • All recycling would be offered as a curbside collection service
  • Residents would place all recyclables in a single cart, provided by the private hauler
  • Customers would directly pay the hauler for service

For people who can’t access curbside pickup (due to location or road access), the County would offer a staffed drop-off site behind the Port Townsend Transfer Station scales, charging the minimum garbage fee.

SWAC supports this recommendation and has forwarded it to the Board of County Commissioners for consideration.

When Would This Happen?

Public Works staff will likely meet with the Board of County Commissioners in June to continue discussions and seek direction.

  • If the Commissioners agree with staff’s recommendation, the new system would start on April 1, 2026, when the current contract ends.
  • If the Commissioners favor continuing with the current program, the County will need to raise tipping fees to keep the current program running.
More Information:

Login & Password: public

Meeting Recordings

Reference Documents

Current Alerts

  • Free Shredding Event: 1st Security Bank – Saturday, June 21st 1st Security Bank invites you to join them at their Hadlock branch for their 2025 free shredding event! https://www.fsbwa.com/news-and-events/2025-shredding-events 
  • NOT RECYCLING GLASS – BEGINNING DECEMBER 1, 2024 Glass recycle bins will be removed and glass will be accepted as trash in Jefferson County. This includes on-site drop off and curbside pickup. Visit our Recycling page for more information and Recycling FAQ’s. 
  • Can’t wait for the next HHW Collection Event? Jefferson County residents can now dispose of household hazardous waste at the Kitsap County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility. Visit our Household Hazardous Waste page for more details.
2025 Household Hazardous Collection Events Flyer

Solid Waste Facility Replacement Planning Project

Your thoughts are important. We will use this website, along with in-person activities, to earnestly ask for your opinions on choices. As the planning proceeds, we will ask you for your thoughts on the Feedback. You will also be able to follow the work of the Solid Waste Facilities Task Force or SWFTF as it participates and contributes to the planning process.
LEARN MORE

Facilities & Hours

Transfer Station

Garbage, Recycling, Yard Waste

LEARN MORE

Quilcene
Drop Box

Household Garbage and Recycling. NO yard waste or construction materials (lumber, roofing, etc.)

LEARN MORE

Compost Facility

Purchase Compost

LEARN MORE

WHAT WE TAKE

We strive to provide our customers with as many disposal options as possible at the Transfer Station outside of Port Townsend or the Drop Box in Quilcene.  In fact, our service level is the same or better than King County and  Seattle.  The City of Port Townsend’s composting facility is located just past the tipping floor at the Transfer Station making yard debris disposal convenient as well.   Please click on the icons to the right to find out about your disposal options.

Garbage

Recycling

Hazardous Waste

Yard Waste/Compost

FAQ’s

Just about every type of material – from regular household garbage to construction debris to used oil and antifreeze to even creosote pilings – can be disposed of at the Transfer Station.  Click below for Frequently Asked Questions.

 

Learn More

About Us

Jefferson County Public Works manages the county-wide solid waste program. As required by the State, solid waste operations must be financially self-sustaining. The program is funded by tipping fees charged for disposal at sites in Port Townsend and Quilcene with a relatively small portion through grants from the Department of Ecology. Levels of service must be balanced with the goal of maintaining current tipping fees.

Learn More