Rate Changes Coming in 2026

After Lopez visitors and residents bring their waste and recycling to the Lopez Dump, our team trucks it off-island to Skagit County Recycling and Transfer Station. Last year, the transfer station instituted annual rate hikes for all customers, including Lopez Solid Waste: a 30% increase over five years.

This isn't the only cost increase the district is facing. In addition to higher ferry rates and other rising costs, LSWDD is now also responsible for a lease payment recently imposed by San Juan County. At the top of our priority list, we must also support our staff with competitive wages.

Despite all of this, disposal rates at the Lopez Dump have remained (and will remain) lower than those on San Juan and Orcas, and recycling has continued (and will continue) to be free. This is due, in large part, to our volunteers, whose annual hours are equivalent to $100,000 in wages. They deserve our sincere thanks.

To meet increasing costs, Lopez community members should expect two changes in 2026. First, beginning January 1, 2026, some disposal fees for miscellanous items will increase, or be newly applied. Here's the updated fee schedule, which will be implemented January 1:

• Tire — $15.00 each

• Small engine equipment (drained of fluids) — $15.00 each

• Couch — $25.00 each

• Chair — $15.00 each

• Sofa bed — $35.00

• Solid furniture (small) — $15.00

• Mattress pad — $12.00

• Twin mattress — $17.00

• Full mattress — $22.00

• Queen or king mattress — $30.00

• Large non-refrigerated appliance — $30.00

• Printer or copier — $15.00

Second, LSWDD's managing board voted at their December meeting to increase the general disposal garbage rates, which haven't been updated since 2021. If approved by the governing board (San Juan County Council) during their January meeting, the following updated rates will take effect on February 1, 2026:

• Minimum charge — $6.00

• 32-gallon container — $12.00

• 55-gallon container — $21.00

• Non-standard containers — $0.38 per gallon

• Truck/trailer load (common / not high-density) — $2.81 per cubic foot

LSWDD's managing board works hard to strike an effective balance between the district's annual levy and our garbage disposal fees to minimize, as much as possible, the onus on Lopez community members. Thank you, always, for your ongoing support.

And once again, we extend profound gratitude to our volunteers. So far in 2025, 86 different volunteers have given more than 3,000 hours of their time to sustain the Dump that we all know and love. Thank you.