WUTC COST ASSESSMENT
COST ASSESSMENT
The Cost Assessment is a comprehensive, system-wide review of a solid waste planŐs costs. Considers the dollar impact on ratepayers of the planŐs recommendations, and provides sufficient information to estimate future rate levels.
INTRODUCTION
The Douglas County Solid Waste Program Office (DCSWPO) has chosen to not submit a cost assessment questionnaire. As stated within the Cost Assessment Guidelines for Local Solid Waste Management Planning (publication # UTC-228-90-01), the questionnaire is not mandatory, but is provided as a tool to ensure that each plan provides WUTC staff with the necessary information to complete their analysis. After conferring with WUTC staff, it was determined that the information contained within this appendix and within the actual planning text, will provide the necessary information required by the WUTC to conduct their analysis.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Chapter 70.95.090(8) RCW states: each county and city comprehensive solid waste management plan shall include an assessment of the planŐs impact on the costs of solid waste collection. The assessment shall be prepared in conformance with guidelines established by the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC).
Chapter 70.95.090(12) RCW requires the WUTC to review the cost assessments during the solid waste management plan approval process. The WUTC will advise the Regional Planning Area (RPA) and the Department of Ecology (DOE) on the probable rate impacts of the planŐs recommendations.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
WUTC Certified Solid Waste Collection Companies
1. Sunrise Disposal Certificate No. G-201
2. Waste Management of Greater Wenatchee, Inc. Certificate No. G-80 and G-117
3. Zippy Disposal Service, Inc. Certificate No. G-121
Map G-1. WUTC Certified Solid Waste Collection Centers within the RPA
WUTC Certified Solid Waste Collection Companies Customers
| Sunrise Disposal | 1999 Residential Customers | 0 |
| 1999 Commercial Customers | 0 |
|
| Waste Management | 1999 Residential Customers | 4,583 |
| 1999 Commercial Customers | 350 |
|
| Zippy Disposal | 1999 Residential Customers | 105 |
| 1999 Commercial Customers | 34 |
WUTC Certified Solid Waste Collection Companies Collection Rates
The general residential cost of monthly collection, picked up weekly, for a 64-gallon polycart is approximately $ 10.50, which includes the polycart container rental fee and a 3.6 percent state refuse tax.
Please see Section 9.3.1 for detailed information on both WUTC Certified Collection Companies and non-regulated collection companies serving the incorporated cities within the RPA.
GWRLF Disposal Rates
According to information provided by the GWRLF on November 6th, 2000, the disposal rate at the GWRLF was $7.79 per cubic yard.
GWRLF Disposal Volumes for the RPA
As reported by the GWRFL to the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD) in its annual report, there were 145,618 cubic yards or 9,538 tons* of RPA solid waste disposed of at the GWRLF in 2000.
* throughout the DCCSWMP, a conversion factor of 131 pounds per cubic yard has been utilized. This figure was negotiated in 1992 between the WUTC, the Washington Refuse and Recycling Association (WRRA), Waste Management of Washington and Douglas County and has been utilized as the mutually accepted multiplier ever since. It must be acknowledged that this conversion factor may be significantly different than what is utilized though out the state and may misrepresent the actual volume of waste being disposed of within the RPA, however until another method of conversion can be derived at, Douglas County must continue to utilize the negotiated conversion factor of 131 pounds per cubic yard.
Please see Chapter 7, Waste Stream Analysis for more detailed information.
Population Figures for the RPA
The total population within the RPA, including incorporated cities, for the year 2000 was 29,855 according to the Washington State Office of Financial Management.
Please see Chapter 7. Waste Stream Analysis for more detailed information.
ASSUMPTIONS
That the GWRLF will be Expanded
With the current capacity at the Greater Wenatchee Regional Landfill and Recycling Facility (GWRLF) estimated at less than twenty years, it is assumed, based upon discussion with GWRLF management that the GWRLF will be expanded. Currently the GWRLF is in discussions with Douglas County to undertake a major expansion of the landfill and its operations within the six-year implementation period. It is therefore, assumed that the GWRLF will, with Douglas CountyŐs approval, expand the landfill beyond the twenty year planning period required under this plan.
That a Solid Waste Program Assistant Position will be Created and Funded
In order to accomplish the program recommendations contained within the Douglas County Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (DCCSWMP) it will be necessary to hire a Solid Waste Program Assistant. Failure to hire this individual will cause the six-year implementation schedule to be altered, delayed or abandoned. Based upon the creation and funding of this new position and the traditional inflationary increase to the DCSWPO budget, it is assumed that a five percent annual increase of the Countywide Solid Waste Budget Fund #144 will occur.
That a Solid Waste Enforcement Position will be Created and Funded
In order to accomplish the enforcement and compliance recommendations contained within the Douglas County Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (DCCSWMP) it will be necessary to hire a Solid Waste Enforcement and Compliance Officer. Failure to hire this individual will cause the six-year implementation schedule to be altered, delayed or abandoned. Based upon the creation and funding of this new position by the Chelan-Douglas Health District (CDHD), it is assumed that an annual increase to the CDHD enforcement and compliance budget will occur.
That Current State Grant Funding Levels will not be Increased
The DCCSWMP makes the assumption, based upon past practices, that the Coordinated Prevention Grant (CPG), Community Litter Cleanup Program (CLCP) and Solid Waste Enforcement (SWE) funds will not be increased over the six-year implementation period. Therefore, adjustments had to be made to the six-year implementation budget to reflect this. As can be seen by reviewing the six-year implementation budget, as program costs increase over the implementation period, additional dollars had to be shifted to other funding sources (i.e. host fee, solid waste importation fee, CDHD funding) in order to meet the projected implementation expenditure. These adjustments will cause an increase in non-grant funded revenues and may lead to rate increases.
That Douglas County will Successfully Negotiate a Host Fee Agreement with the GWRLF
In order to shift away from the current method of funding the implementation of the DCCSWMP utilizing Administration and Implementation (A&I) fees from the participating jurisdictions and Solid Waste Haulers fees, it is assumed that Douglas County will be able to successfully negotiate a ŇHost FeeÓ Agreement with the GWRLF. Failure of Douglas County and the GWRLF to reach such an agreement will place the implementation of the DCCSWMP in jeopardy. For without a reliable outside funding source, the current funding method can not be sustained by the participating jurisdictions.
That the Douglas County Solid Waste Importation Fee is Found to be Enforceable
It is assumed that the imposition of a Solid Waste Importation Fee will be determined to be legal and enforceable. The imposition of this fee is intended to relieve the GWRLF from having to fund the majority of the implementation of the DCCSWMP from its host fee discussed above. By imposing this fee on all solid waste being imported into the RPA, the host fee pass through costs to the solid waste collection customers within the RPA will be reduced. The justification for this importation fee is to mitigate the diminished landfill capacity caused by the importation of solid waste into the GWRLF.
That the Chelan-Douglas Health District Undertakes a Solid Waste Enforcement and Compliance Program including Permitting of Solid Waste Facilities
It is assumed that the CDHD will undertake the enforcement and compliance tasks identified within the DCCSWMP. A number of recommendations contained within the DCCSWMP concern the permitting, inspection and monitoring of solid waste facilities within the RPA by the CDHD. It is therefore assumed, that as the CDHD takes on this responsibility they will establish a fee schedule that provides such fees for service that will recoup their actual cost of providing such service.
PROJECTIONS
WUTC Certified Solid Waste Collection Companies Customers
The following projections for customers served by WUTC Certified Collection Companies for years one, three and six are based on an anticipated two percent (2%) annual increase, which is consistent with the annual projected growth rate for population as determined in the Douglas County Comprehensive Plan(s).
| 2002 |
2004 |
2007 |
||
| Sunrise Disposal | Residential | 0 |
0 |
0 |
| Commercial | 0 |
0 |
0 |
|
| Waste Management | Residential | 4,864 |
5,060 |
5,369 |
| Commercial | 371 |
386 |
410 |
|
| Zippy Disposal | Residential | 111 |
115 |
121 |
| Commercial | 37 |
39 |
42 |
GWRLF Disposal Volumes Projection in Tons for the RPA
Historically, the annual percentage increase of solid waste disposal within the GWRLF has grown at a faster rate than the population growth within the RPA. This solid waste disposal is expected to continue throughout the planning period. Utilizing this historical annual percentage it is projected that a 3.7% annual increase in tons will occur within the RPA.
2002 |
2004 |
2007 |
||
| Municipal Solid Waste | 7,706 |
8,255 |
9,153 |
|
| Commercial Waste | 2,428 |
2,647 |
3,012 |
|
| Industrial Waste | 78 |
83 |
92 |
|
| Special Waste | 47 |
51 |
57 |
|
| Total: | 10,259 |
11,036 |
12,314 |
Population Projections for the RPA
Based upon the information provided by the Washington State Office of Financial Management the annual percentage increase within the RPA is projected to be 2.5%. Utilizing this historical annual percentage it is projected that the RPA population will increase by 4,413 by 2007.
|
2002 |
2004 |
2007 |
|
| Population |
31,351 |
32,992 |
35,764 |
Solid Waste Disposal Projections for the RPA
By utilizing the projected solid waste disposal rates and the projected population increase rate, a solid waste disposal rate of 1.8 pounds per day is projected for this six-year planning period.
|
2002 |
2004 |
2007 |
|
| Per Capita Annual Rate |
654
lbs |
669
lbs |
689
lbs |
Table G. SIX-YEAR IMPLEMENTATION BUDGET
