The new year 2026 brings with it a 4% increase in garbage and recycling rates for residents of Spokane County in the state of Washington, United States. This increase follows the approval of a new law that comes into effect on January 1, when residents will have to pay an additional $30 fee to dispose of appliances that contain refrigerant. This law includes refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, and water coolers, among other devices.
This cost will be added to residents’ regular rates, while the rest of the appliances will not undergo any changes and will maintain the standard fee. According to county officials, this increase is due to the need to cover the costs of the chemicals required to clean the equipment and to operate the disposal methods.
New garbage and recycling tax
Spokane County, in the state of Washington, United States, will start the year 2026 with a 4% increase in its garbage and recycling taxes. This increase, announced by the authorities, comes in response to the approval of a new law that will take effect after the 12 strikes of midnight. On January 1, this increase will take effect and will include an additional fee of $30 for the disposal of appliances that contain refrigerant.
This fee will apply to anyone who disposes of items such as refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, water coolers, and any other appliances that contain refrigerant. Citizens will not have to make any bureaucratic changes, as this increase will be automatically added to the total cost of residents’ regular garbage fees.
Why is this rate increase necessary?
According to officials from Spokane County, the 4% rate increase is necessary to address the challenging sanitation processes that crews must carry out to safely dispose of appliances that contain refrigerants. The chemicals pose significant health and environmental risks due to their toxicity, requiring specialized equipment and disposal methods. “These hazardous chemicals must be safely recovered from each unit—a time-consuming process that requires specialized equipment and disposal methods”.
The disposal process for this type of device requires a series of products and disposal procedures that have higher costs, which is why this rate increase is necessary. However, the rest of the common household appliances such as dishwashers, microwaves, washing machines, and dryers are not included in this list and will continue to have the same standard garbage fee. On the other hand, the disposal of organic materials or yard waste will also experience an additional 10% increase over standard rates.
Increase in post-Christmas expenses
This tax increase coincides with the time of year when energy consumption bills rise significantly. The arrival of the Christmas summer season brings not only the festivities but also the cold, which leads households to use heating more, thus increasing the amount of their bills. For this reason, it is worth remembering that there are several states that have made social assistance available to citizens to help cover energy bills during the winter months, providing real support at the start of the year, after leaving behind the expenses typical of December and with the beginning of a new year.