Current Alerts
- Recycling changes April 1, 2026 Scroll down to learn more about Jefferson County’s recycling changes beginning April 1!
- Visit the Solid Waste Facility Replacement Planning Project page to learn why, when, and where the Transfer Station is moving.
- Transfer Station traffic camera is live! We’ve installed a video camera to live stream traffic flow at the Transfer Station scale house. Click the image for the live feed or go to https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1932/Solid-Waste-Camera
- 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events Dates have been set! Visit our Household Hazardous Waste page for more details or check out the 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event Flyer.
Recycling Program Changing 4/1/2026
Who will this affect?
Unincorporated Jefferson County residents outside of Port Townsend city limits.
City of Port Townsend residents will not see a change in their mandatory garbage and recycling services.
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
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
Residential garbage collection should not subsidize recycling.
Jefferson County subsidizes our recycling program by $326,000 each year! This cost is factored into the fee households are charged for disposal of trash at the Transfer Stations in Port Townsend and Quilcene. We also depend on offsets from state grants and commodity sales.
Recycling always had a cost. At the start of the recycling program, the value of recyclables helped offset the costs of collection and processing. This helped keep the costs low. In the last decade, commodity values have plummeted while the costs of collection and processing continue to rise.
Why is the contamination rate so high in the drop boxes? Three reasons:
1) Some people are not paying attention to what is accepted, despite signs on the drop boxes, and flyers online and mailed in PUD bills.
2) Drop boxes seen as a “free” place to dump garbage—over 41 tons in 2024! Those added costs have been significant for the county.
3) Well-meaning “wish-cyclers” thinking if they put an unaccepted item in the bin, it will be recycled somewhere. Unfortunately, it is just garbage and contaminates the load.
What’s Changes Will I See?
- We’re removing all un-staffed county recycling drop boxes: Port Ludlow, Port Hadlock, and Kala Point sites.
- Fee-based recycling at Solid Waste facilities: Port Townsend and Quilcene. (We’re contracting with Olympic Waste Disposal to provide this service.)
- Consolidated recycling types: cans, plastic bottles and jugs, paper, and cardboard will be accepted in one bin. No more separating each type- except for glass which will continue to be on its own.
What Are My Options?
Curbside Pick-Up Service
Waste Connections
Call or visit their website to get a quote. Their services are comparable to self-haul pricing.
Low income rates available
(360) 385-6612 https://www.wasteconnections.com/sequim/
Self-Haul to Solid Waste Facilities
For people who can’t access curbside pickup (due to location or road access) or choose to self-haul their recycling and/or garbage.
- Port Townsend—325 Landfill Road behind the Port Townsend Transfer Station scales
$20 fee for up to 220 lbs - Quilcene Rural Drop Box Facility
295312 Highway 101; $20 fee for up to two
32-gallon cans of waste + all recycling
Low-income rates available.
2026 Changes
April 1, 2026: Current recycling services contract ends. New recycling program begins.
2025 Open Public Meetings
Meeting Recordings (Login & Password: public)
3/26/25 Joint SWAC & BOCC Special Meeting
4/29/25 Joint SWAC & BOCC Special Meeting
January, March, & April meetings for SWAC members, Commissioners, and public input.
7/21/2025 BoCC Regular Meeting
Proposal announced at this BOCC meeting
09/02/2025 BoCC Regular Meeting
The County Commissioners agreed with staff’s recommendation and gave direction to develop
-an Operating Agreement with Waste Connections for the management of the County-owned recycling center
-a Level of Service Ordinance that would establish the curbside recycling options such as choices in bin sizes and collection frequency
11/03/2025 BoCC Regular Meeting
BOCC solicited public comment on the Level of Service Ordinance at a Public Hearing and adopted the Ordinance.
Reference Documents
Solid Waste Facility Replacement Planning Project
Facilities & Hours
Transfer Station
Garbage, Recycling, Yard Waste
Quilcene
Drop Box
Household Garbage and Recycling. NO yard waste or construction materials (lumber, roofing, etc.)
Compost Facility
Purchase Compost
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.
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.