Skagit County Solid Waste rates increased on Jan. 1. The cost of general solid waste at the Skagit County Transfer and Recycling Station and the Sauk Transfer Station went from $137 to $141 per ton. The charge for general solid waste is now $28 (previously $27) at minimum for the first 380 pounds. The cost of dumping a 32-gallon can of trash at the Clear Lake Compactor Site will stay at $9. Appliances will continue to cost $13 per item, while those containing freon are now $34 ($33 in 2025).
In a December press release, the county explained that the Solid Waste division is not funded by taxes but by disposal and user fees. Since 2025, rates have been increasing yearly by 2-3% until 2030 to cover rising costs. The minimum charge at the Sauk and Ovenell Transfer Stations will increase by $1 every year until it reaches $30 in 2028. Recycling and household hazardous waste drop-off will continue to be free for households.
Community members have until Jan. 31 to register to the Salish Sea Stewards Volunteer Training Program, a free 40-hour program that explores topics affecting the Salish Sea, taught by local environmental experts. Students can learn about marine life, tribal fishing rights, water quality, restoration efforts, salmon and more. In return, they pledge to commit 40 hours of volunteering. Training begins Feb. 10 and ends April 14, with in-person classes taking place 1-5 p.m. on Tuesdays at 10441 Bayview-Edison Road, Mount Vernon, and field sessions at various Skagit locations. To register, visit skagitmrc.org (no experience needed). For more information, contact salishseastewards@gmail.com.
The Washington Supreme Court has declined to block Washington counties from suing the state over public defense funding, allowing a lawsuit to move forward as the 2026 legislative session begins. The decision lets stand a 2025 appeals court ruling that counties have legal standing to challenge the state’s longstanding system, which places most public defender costs on local governments. County leaders argue the approach is unconstitutional, underfunded, and results in unequal access to justice, particularly in smaller or poorer communities, while the state maintains the system is lawful and will continue to defend it as the case proceeds.
Recent flooding from the December atmospheric river caused an estimated $40 million to $50 million in damage to Washington’s highway system, according to state transportation officials, who cautioned that costs are still being finalized. The Washington State Department of Transportation has responded to dozens of damaged sites and awarded 16 emergency repair contracts so far, with more expected. Major impacts include U.S. Route 2, which was closed for more than two weeks and remains under temporary repairs, with some sections not expected to fully reopen until summer, as well as damage to U.S. 12, U.S. 101, and State Route 542. State officials are seeking federal disaster assistance to help cover repair costs, though the availability of that funding remains uncertain.
