Seattle Considers Flow Control

The city of Seattle is considering the implementation of a “flow control” ordinance, according to sources in that region

Recyclers in the Pacific Northwest have reported that the rule being considered will require all C&D waste and recycling bins and dumpsters containing more than 10 percent “non-recyclables” to be under the city’s jurisdiction. As such, the material would be subject to a host fee that will provide added revenue for the city and potential control of the material to city-designated solid waste companies.

Several current and potential C&D recyclers in the area fear that the larger, established solid waste companies are behind the move.

Seattle currently has a thriving C&D recycling infrastructure that diverts thousands of tons of material away from the waste stream, according to William Turley, executive director of the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA).

In other parts of the country, flow control-type ordinances often bring a large part of the mixed C&D material back into the control of the largest haulers, says Turley.