County Officials Discuss Waste Control Solutions to Reduce Long Wait Times

In a recent meeting held by the Cowlitz County Commissioners, pressing issues surrounding the local waste management system took center stage. As the sun streamed through the windows of the county hall, officials gathered to address growing concerns about long wait times at the transfer station, a problem that has escalated significantly over the past two decades.

Commissioners highlighted that the influx of waste, both from local residents and commercial entities, has led to unacceptable delays, with some users facing waits of up to three hours. This situation has prompted discussions with Waste Control, the company managing the transfer station, to explore potential solutions. One proposed strategy is the implementation of a reservation system for commercial accounts, which aims to streamline the process and reduce congestion during peak hours.

The meeting revealed that the current setup, where both residential and commercial vehicles share limited space, is contributing to the bottleneck. The commissioners noted that while there had been improvements after adjusting operational hours for commercial trailers, recent months have seen a resurgence in wait times. To address this, Waste Control is considering a pilot program with select vendors to test the reservation system.

Additionally, the commissioners discussed the possibility of installing a live camera feed at the transfer station. This would allow users to monitor queue lengths before making the trip, potentially alleviating some of the frustration associated with long waits. However, officials acknowledged that a more permanent solution, such as the construction of a new transfer station, is still years away due to the lengthy permitting process.

In a bid to further mitigate the issue, the commissioners are also contemplating adjustments to the rates charged to out-of-county vehicles. With many trailers from neighboring Clark County utilizing the Cowlitz facility, raising these rates could discourage non-residents from contributing to the congestion.

As the meeting concluded, the commissioners expressed their commitment to finding effective solutions to improve the waste management experience for all residents. With ongoing discussions and trials on the horizon, there is hope that the community will soon see a reduction in wait times and a more efficient transfer station operation.