$10 fee at county dumps for unsecured vehicle loads
Starting August 1, 2023, Kitsap County solid waste disposal facilities will strictly charge a $10 fee to customers who arrive with an unsecured vehicle load, regardless of the type of material being transported or the type of vehicle.
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.
It's the lawLittering and driving with an unsecured vehicle load are against the law in Washington, with fines up to $5,000. If an item falls out and causes bodily harm or property damage, the driver could also face jail time.
- Washington law (RCW 46.61.655) requires motorists to cover and secure their load to prevent cargo from breaking free.
- Washington law (RCW 70A.200.120), adopted in 1993, requires solid waste facilities to charge a fee for unsecured and uncovered loads, and county code (KCC 9.18) authorizes staff to collect this fee.
- Washington's Commercial Vehicle Guide includes load securement information on page 1-2.
When do you need to secure your load?
Secure your load every time you hit the road. Unsecured vehicle loads cause over 300 traffic crashes and 30 injuries in Washington every year and cause up to 40% of roadside litter — let's change that. Secure all items in every vehicle load, no matter how short the distance or how slow the speed.
Tips for securing vehicle loads
It's quick and easy to secure your load. Watch the videos below to learn how, and follow these tips:
Secure every load with straps, nets, tarps, and other tie-downs to prevent items from falling out, sliding, shifting, or becoming airborne.
Securely fasten large items directly to your vehicle or trailer.
Cover your entire load with a tarp or net to prevent smaller items from blowing out, and secure the cover.
Double check your load to make sure all is secure.
Don't overload your vehicle.
Talk with your friends, family, and coworkers about the importance of load security, and ask them to secure their load.
Gravity and luck are not load securement devices.
Get more tips from the Washington Department of Ecology.
Call 911 if you see an unsecured load
Call 911 if you see a dangerous unsecured load or witness something
fall from a vehicle that could cause a crash.
To report litter escaping from a commercial waste collection truck, email the Department of Ecology at Amber.Smith@ecy.wa.gov. Reports are sent to the Washington Refuse and Recycling Association, the group representing major trash haulers. Include the location, time, date, company name, and truck number if available.
What are fees used for?
Collected fees are deposited into the Kitsap County "Clean Kitsap" fund, which is used for cleanup of litter and illegal dumpsites from public property and education related to litter control or illegal dumping.
