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July 24, 2023
 Kitsap County disposal facilities to charge $10 fee for unsecured loads starting Aug. 1
Effective August 1, 2023, Kitsap County solid waste disposal facilities will charge a $10 fee to customers who arrive with an unsecured vehicle load. The purpose of the fee is to improve road safety and reduce litter on Kitsap County roads.
To avoid the fee, customers must show staff their secured load without removing tarps, netting, straps, and other tie-downs outside the facility. All materials must be properly secured, including bagged items, loose debris, trash cans, trash can lids, recyclables, yard debris, tarps, coverings, large or heavy items, and small items.
The fee will apply at the following facilities:
- Olympic View Transfer Station;
- Hansville Recycling and Garbage Facility;
- Silverdale Recycling and Garbage Facility; and
- Olalla Recycling and Garbage Facility.
Failure to secure a load can result in more than just a fee. Law enforcement may issue a $237 ticket for improperly secured loads. Additionally, if items fall out and cause property damage or injury to others, drivers can be fined up to $5,000 and charged with a gross misdemeanor, including up to a year in jail.
Washington law requires motorists to cover and secure their loads to prevent cargo from breaking free (RCW 46.61.655) and requires solid waste facilities to charge a fee for unsecured loads (RCW 70A.200.120). Kitsap County Code (KCC 9.18) authorizes staff to collect the $10 fee at county solid waste facilities.
Every year, unsecured vehicle loads cause over 300 traffic crashes and 30 injuries in Washington. In 2022, this included five fatalities attributed to debris in the roadway.
The fees collected will be utilized to clean up and prevent roadside litter in Kitsap County. According to the Washington Department of Ecology, up to 40% of roadside litter is caused by materials flying or falling from vehicles.
Enforcement of the fee is part of Kitsap County's Secure Your Load for Safer Roads campaign, which launched on May 24, 2023 to educate the community about the importance of load security.
Cargas bien sujetadas, caminos más seguros (en Español)
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Sign at Olympic View Transfer Station educates customers ahead of Aug. 1
Tips for securing vehicle loads
Secure all items in every load, no matter how short the distance or how slow the speed. It's quick and easy to secure your load and save a life. Watch the campaign video to learn how, and follow these tips:
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