Seattle Turns to Landfill to Raise Money for Budget Gap

Lynn Schenkman

Seattle -- The King County Council is questioning the legal points of a proposal to generate funds to fill a budget gap by charging rent on the Cedar Hills landfill, which handles all municipal solid waste from the city of Seattle. The landfill is owned and operated by the King County Solid Waste Division. The proposal by King County Executive Ron Sims would charge the utility $7 million per year in rent, which would raise the public’s garbage bill by approximately 47 cents to 49 cents per month, according to news sources.