Last month, in a big win for efficiency and safety at the Lopez Dump, Facility Manager Colby White and District Manager Ric Carr facilitated the purchase of a long-awaited backhoe to replace aging equipment on-site.  “The old backhoe needed more and more repairs,” said Colby, who located the new (to us) machine in Colville, Washington. The search had been extensive for a machine that met both the organization’s needs and its budget. “The new backhoe has more power, packs containers more efficiently, and will save LSWDD money in the long-run.”  “Whereas we all feel we should respect our elders, replacement parts can only prolong life so far,” noted Gene Helfman, LSWDD board member and Recycle Dog.  The team depends on the backhoe to compress garbage into containers, allowing LSWDD to dispose of as much garbage as possible during each trip off-island. This minimizes both the cost and the environmental impact of hauling our community's waste. After some maintenance in Burlington, the new backhoe was ready to get to work. Huge thanks to David Zapalac for inspecting the machine and delivering it to the site! And the news just gets better! Shortly after the backhoe purchase was complete, the Solid Waste Alternatives Program (SWAP) board voted to support the Dump in a big way, making a donation to LSWDD that covered nearly the full cost of the backhoe and necessary maintenance. If you don’t know about them already, SWAP is the organization who put together this summer’s unforgettable Trashion Fashion event. Trashion Fashion raised thousands of dollars in support of community-led waste disposal and zero-waste efforts on Lopez! “LSWDD offers its profound thanks to SWAP and the Lopez community for this generous donation,” said Ric.  Learn more about SWAP here !

Lopez Solid Waste Disposal District (LSWDD) is a truly community-led endeavor, and requires dependable and recurring support from several sources to maintain current services, including free recycling and Take It Or Leave It (TIOLI). Our sources of support include garbage disposal fees, volunteer hours, donations, and our annual levy. Washington State authorizes disposal districts to seek levy funding only one year at a time, which means LSWDD must pass a levy each year to secure funding for the following year. How much do property owners pay? The proposed 2025 levy rate is about $0.094 per $1,000 of taxable assessed property value. So, if your property's taxable assessed value is $600,000, you will contribute about $56.40 over the entire year to help sustain the Lopez Dump. Taxable Property Value $300,000 $600,000 $1,000,000 Estimated Total Contribution $28.20 $56.40 $94.00 How does this levy compare to previous years? Historically, levy revenue has remained the same, despite significant increases in operating costs. In 2014, a levy of $105,000 supported about 40% of LSWDD's operating expenses. In 2023, that same amount covered only 19% of expenses. The LSWDD board determined that in 2025, a $210,000 levy is needed to sustain services and make essential improvements. This levy amount is required to: Repair and replace critical equipment. The Dump's garbage truck, excavator, and forklift are in urgent need of replacement. Cover significant increases in transportation and disposal costs. This year, the rate LSWDD pays to dispose of our community's garbage is increasing from $111 to $138 per ton — a 24% increase. Within five years, the rate will increase to nearly 30%. Rising fuel and ferry costs also add to LSWDD's growing expenses. Maintain sufficient staff. In order to safely and efficiently operate the Dump and sustain services like free recycling and TIOLI, LSWDD must maintain sufficient staff by offering sustainable wages and benefits. Prepare for uncertain circumstances following LSWDD's interlocal agreement renewal with San Juan County in 2025, which could include new lease payments and capital improvements. What if the levy fails? If the levy doesn't pass, LSWDD will have to operate on about 67% of the funding that's needed to sustain current services. Difficult options to address such a large drop in revenue would include drastically reduced services (including recycling and TIOLI), elimination of free recycling, and significant increases to garbage disposal fees. If you have any questions about the levy, please reach out to sarahr@lopezsolidwaste.org !

The Great Islands Clean Up (fall edition) is coming up on September 21! All are welcome to join in this semi-annual island tradition, an event organized by San Juan County to care for our island home. Each year, GICU volunteers pick up thousands of pounds of litter from shared beaches and roadways. Fall 2024 Great Islands Clean Up 10am to 11am — Check in, pick your route, and pick up supples and snacks at Lopez Village Park. Some supplies will also be available outside Southend Market. 12pm to 2pm — Drop off supplies and collected litter at the Lopez Dump, following signs to the designated GICU intake area. Traditionally, we've measured and compared litter by weight, year after year. This year, in addition to total weight, we will also keep track of microplastics — litter that doesn't weigh very much, but that has a very harmful impact on our ecosystem. In particular, San Juan County is asking volunteers to keep an eye out for nurdles — small plastic pellets that are the raw materials used to make plastic products. If you find any nurdles, consider picking them up in a smaller container so we can track how they're impacting Lopez beaches! Want to volunteer, or learn more about Great Islands Clean Up? Email sarahr@lopezsolidwaste.org .

Summer hours at the Lopez Dump will end after Labor Day. Starting Friday, September 6 , the Dump will be open to the public: Friday – Monday 11am – 3pm Take It Or Leave It (TIOLI) shopping and donation days will remain the same: TIOLI Shopping Only Fridays & Sundays 11am – 3pm TIOLI Donations Only Saturdays & Mondays 11am – 3pm Questions? Email sarahr@lopezsolidwaste.org .

This month, two of Lopez Solid Waste's board members took a field trip to Burlington to visit Skagit River Steel & Recycling — the facility that processes a majority of our community's recyclables. Gene Helfman and John Trench, who are both dedicated recycling volunteers at the Dump, met with Skagit River Steel's General Manager Todd Reynolds, who gave them a full tour while they asked lots of questions about where our garbage really goes. "The result of [our] meticulous parceling of waste is gratifying. Skagit River Steel recycles over 99% by weight of deposited materials, less than 1% eventually entering the waste stream!" Gene reported. "Reynolds was very complimentary of Lopez efforts at recycling, emphasizing that deliveries from Lopez are exceptionally free of contamination." Read their full report, published this week in Islands' Weekly: " Where does it go when it goes 'away.' "

If you're at the Dump this weekend and spot Facility Manager Justin Hagge scurrying about, take a moment to thank him for his many contributions to Lopez Solid Waste! Next week, Justin will be leaving his position at LSWDD to join Lopez Fire & EMS full-time. While we're sad to see him go, we know he'll be right down the street — and we're very grateful for his continued commitment to the Lopez community. "The song that best fits Justin is the Beach Boys' 'I Get Around'—he's constantly on the move, making sure all is operating smoothly and helping volunteers with whatever we need," said John Trench, an LSWDD board member who volunteers on-site every weekend. "My volunteer shift is always fun, but Justin made it even better. He's always smiling, welcoming and enthusiastic. If I had recycling question, he had the answer and more." After Justin's departure, we're excited to welcome Operations Assistant Sean Nolan as our new Facility Manager. Sean does a lot for the Dump, from the booth and behind the scenes, and it'll be great to have him at the helm! If you have any questions about this transition, don't hesitate to reach out. If you want to get involved at the Dump, we have lots of volunteer opportunities! Email Sarah Reeves, Volunteer Coordinator, at sarahdr@lopezsolidwaste.org.

"It really takes all of us, working together, to make this facility function as well as it does." The Lopez Dump is a community effort in every sense of the word: island residents own and operate the Dump, volunteer at the Dump, and directly benefit from its services and programs. And for many Lopezians, it's much more than waste management — it's also a hub for connection and camaraderie. Each person plays a part in making the Dump what it is. Two of the most impactful things we do are: We sort our recycling! When we recycle, we not only save money by paying less for our garbage, but we also reduce what we send to the landfill and help LSWDD offer the lowest garbage rates in the county. We volunteer! LSWDD volunteers have a significant and tangible impact. They: Help customers sort their recycling, fostering community connection and preventing contamination so that LSWDD staff can actually recycle many of our plastics, paper, and metal! Sort donations at TIOLI, which helps maintain this cherished island space and keeps reusable items like clothes, appliances, tools, and furniture out of the landfill. Disassemble appliances and other metal recycling, allowing the Dump to generate more revenue from recycled materials (and keep offering free services). This is the handiwork of the famous Recycle Dogs! To learn more and start volunteering at the Dump, email Sarah Reeves, LSWDD Volunteer Coordinator, at sarahr@lopezsolidwaste.org. Spotlight: Meet the Recycle Dogs "The Recycle Dogs deconstruct and organize scrap metal and appliances, breaking it down into smaller components worth much more than when it was first discarded," explains John Trench, LSWDD board member and dedicated Recycle Dog. The crew meets every other week and gets a lot done while having a lot of fun. "LSWDD could recycle metal items in bulk, but by separating out valuable components such as copper, zinc, brass, stainless steel, lead, and aluminum, the Recycle Dogs greatly increase the value of materials discarded. Last year, they helped the Dump generate 20 times the revenue of recycling metals in bulk!" Thank you, Recycle Dogs, for your commitment to our community! Video: Meet the Recycle Dogs

Got paint? Don't let unused paint clutter up your garage — or become a hazard! You can bring reusable paint to the Dump for recycling every Sunday. For FREE! Lopez Solid Waste (the Lopez Dump) is an official PaintCare drop-off facility, accepting up to ten gallons of latex and oil-based house paints, primers, and stains per customer, Sundays only. Paints have to be reusable — no dried paints will be accepted. Containers must: be 5-gallon or smaller. have their original labels. have secure lids that prevent leaks and spills. To learn more about the PaintCare program on Lopez, visit lopezsolidwaste.org/paint-care.

Beginning Friday, May 31, Lopez Solid Waste (the Dump) will open one hour earlier! SUMMER HOURS 2024 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY, & MONDAY

The Great Islands Clean-Up is a San Juan County event that takes place each Spring and Fall. This Spring, we'll come together on April 20 from 10am to 2pm to pick up and properly dispose of litter along our island's roads and beaches. We hope to see you there! Here's how it works: 10am to 11am: Pick up equipment (grabbers, buckets or bags, high-visibility vests) from the bin at Southend Market or the tent in Lopez Village Park. Come to Lopez Village Park to fuel up on coffee, tea, and baked goods! Collect litter from roadsides and public areas like parks and beaches. Not sure where you should go? If you check in at Lopez Village Park between 10 and 11, volunteers can help you identify recommended routes. 12pm to 2pm: Drop off equipment and collected litter at Lopez Solid Waste (the Dump), following signs to the drop-off area. At drop-off, those who collect litter will each receive a ticket for one drink at Brewvado Taproom, courtesy of the Solid Waste Alternatives Program (SWAP)! Questions? Please contact sarahr@lopezsolidwaste.org.

San Juan County's Household Hazardous Waste Round-Up is our annual opportunity to legally and responsibly dispose of poisonous, flammable, corrosive or other hazardous chemicals for FREE.* Why? Proper disposal of hazardous materials protects you and your family, the workers who handle your waste, and the place we call home — it keeps harmful chemicals out of our bodies, our drinking water, and the environment around us. ​ Where? Lopez Solid Waste AKA the Dump (2419 Fisherman Bay Road) When? Saturday, May 11, 2024; 10am to 2pm ​ Important: Please do not bring children or pets to Lopez Solid Waste during the Household Hazardous Waste Round-up. ​​ Here's what you can bring: Pesticides, fungicides and other poisons Gasoline and other used fuels Wood preservatives, solvents and thinners Pool and photo chemicals, resins Corrosives, degreasers, and cleaning products Mercury, rechargeable batteries Propane cylinders and aerosols ​ Here's what NOT to bring:  ​ Flares, explosives, or ammunition (deliver to the Sheriff's office) Antifreeze, motor oil (unless the oil is mixed with water or other fuels), and vehicle batteries — these can be recycled for free at Lopez Solid Waste during operating hours: learn more. Spent fluorescent light tubes and bulbs — these are also accepted for recycling at Lopez Solid Waste during operating hours. Barbecue-style propane tanks — dispose of empty propane tanks, up to 10 gallons, for a fee during operating hours. Lopez Solid Waste is a PaintCare recycling site — we accept latex and oil-based paints for reuse and recycling every Sunday during business hours. Learn more. ​ *Households can dispose of 25 gallons or less of qualifying hazardous waste for free. Businesses disposing hazardous wastes will be charged disposal fees and must pre-register 10 days in advance — call or email Katie Fleming to register: 360-762-5821; katief@sanjuanco.com. Find more information at sanjuanco.com/351/Hazardous-Waste.

At approximately 2:00 p.m. on March 22, 2024, staff noticed a plume of smoke coming from one of the large garbage containers at Lopez Solid Waste (“the dump”). Staff promptly evacuated all customers from the site, moved quickly away from the container and called Lopez Fire & EMS. “Any fire in a dumpster needs to be considered a potential hazmat situation,” said Justin Hagge, LSWDD Facility Manager. “We will always evacuate in this instance and take every precaution to ensure the site is cleared.” Lopez Fire & EMS arrived promptly on-site with two engines and an incident command vehicle. Responders observed only smoldering materials in the container and no open flames. They notified neighbors of the incident and closed a section of Fisherman Bay Road in proximity to Lopez Solid Waste, routing traffic away from the site. Because this was a small fire with minimal spread, the incident commander did not evacuate neighboring homes. Staff who had been in proximity to the container were evaluated and cleared by Lopez EMS. Lopez Fire removed a number of items from the container and identified a metal can filled with an unknown substance as a potential source of the fire. The can’s contents could have been ignited by a spark after the garbage was compressed. Other hazardous materials found in the container included fertilizer, pesticides, and cleaning materials. To avoid potential run-off, no water was used during the incident response. By 4:00 p.m. on March 22, the site was deemed safe and released by Lopez Fire & EMS back to LSWDD staff. The container was left open overnight and monitored by LSWDD and Lopez Fire. LSWDD staff consulted CHEMTREC and The Washington State Department of Ecology and are currently awaiting further information before safely removing materials from the container. The container will be closed until remaining materials can be safely removed. The dump is safe and open for regular operating hours: Friday through Monday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. LSWDD will continue to update the Lopez Island community as more information becomes available. Important Reminder: Do not dispose of hazardous waste at the dump EXCEPT during LSWDD's annual Household Hazardous Waste Roundup. Household hazardous waste includes pesticides, fungicides and other poisons; gasoline and other used fuels; wood preservatives; solvents and thinners; pool and photo chemicals; resins; corrosives; degreasers; cleaning products; mercury; rechargeable batteries; propane cylinders; and aerosols. Qualifying paint products can be dropped off for reuse or recycling on Sundays only. This year, the Household Hazardous Waste Roundup will take place on May 11, 2024, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.