What is solid waste?
"Solid waste" means all perishable and non-perishable solid and semisolid wastes including, but not limited to, garbage, rubbish, ashes, industrial wastes, sewage sludge, demolition and construction wastes, abandoned vehicles, contaminated soils, and recyclable materials. The two main Washington Administrative Codes (WAC) that regulate solid waste activities are WAC 173-350 and WAC 173-351.
links to WACS
Why does the health district regulate solid waste?
Solid waste usually contains organic matter (food, yard waste, wood) in which microbes and parasites can rapidly grow and reproduce. Many of these organisms can cause disease in humans and our pets. These organisms can infect us when we come in direct contact with them or they get in our water/food supply. Some organisms, such as flies and rodents (vectors), can transfer disease-causing organisms from solid waste to humans. Many diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, and polio, which were common in the US in the 1800-1900s, have been greatly reduced due to a better management of solid wastes and drinking water.
BFHD is responsible for the review, permitting, and inspection of all solid waste disposal sites in Benton and Franklin Counties. BFHD also investigates illegal dump sites and problem waste situations. If you would like to file a complaint regarding a solid waste problem, please call Environmental Health at 509.460.4205
Ensuring that waste is managed and disposed of responsibility is another function of the Benton-Franklin Health District. Click on the subject to the left for more information about how to properly dispose of these waste products.