Section 173-900-355. Collection services.

(1) Each plan must include a description of the method(s) for the reasonably convenient collection of all CEPs in rural and urban areas throughout the state at no cost to the covered entities according to the requirements in this section.

(2) County: The plan must provide collection services of CEPs in each county of the state.

(3) Urban, city or towns with a population greater than ten thousand: The plan must provide at least:

(a) One collection site; or

(b) Alternative collection service; or

(c) A combination of sites and alternative service(s).

Together, these sites and/or alternative services must provide at least one collection opportunity for all CEPs for every city or town in the state with a population of greater than ten thousand. A county's collection site may be the same as a collection site for a city or town in the county.

(4) Rural areas: For rural areas without commercial centers, or areas with widely dispersed population, a plan may provide collection at:

(a) The nearest commercial centers or solid waste sites;

(b) Collection events;

(c) Mail-back systems; or

(d) A combination of these options.

(5) Collectors: The plan must use only registered collectors that are listed as being in "in compliance" status on the "collector registration list."

(6) Standard plan: The standard plan must accept CEPs from any collector that is listed on the "collector registration list" as in "in compliance" status.

(7) Limiting CEPs collected: A plan may limit the number of CEPs that will be accepted.

(a) CEPs may be limited by:

(i) Number of a product type accepted per a covered entity per day; or

(ii) Number of product type accepted per delivery at a collection site; or

(iii) Number of a product type accepted by an alternative collection service.

(b) All covered entities may use a collection site as long as the covered entities adhere to any restrictions established in the approved plans.

(8) Large quantities: If a plan provides specific collection services or has restrictions for large quantities of CEPs, the plan must include a definition of "large quantity."

(9) Providing joint services: A plan may provide collection sites and services jointly with another plan or plans.

(10) Collection sites:

(a) Collection sites must be:

(i) Staffed during operating hours;

(ii) Open to the public at a frequency adequate to meet the needs of the area being served; and

(iii) Open regularly scheduled hours and on an ongoing basis.

(b) Collection sites may include:

(i) Electronics recyclers and repair shops;

(ii) Recyclers of other commodities;

(iii) Reuse organizations;

(iv) Charities;

(v) Retailers;

(vi) Government recycling sites; or

(vii) Other suitable locations.

(11) Alternatives to collection sites:

(a) A plan may provide alternative collection services to covered entities if those alternative collection services provide:

(i) Equal or better convenience than a collection site; and

(ii) Equal or increased collection of unwanted CEPs than would be achieved through a collection site.

(b) If a plan provides alternative services at a cost, the plan must also provide free collection service to covered entities in that county and for cities or towns with a population greater than ten thousand.

(c) These alternatives must be included in the plan as required under Part III, WAC 173-900-320.

(d) To use an alternative collection service instead of a collection site, a plan must provide ecology documentation that demonstrates the alternative service meets (a)(i) and (ii) of this subsection.

(e) Alternative services may include curbside collection services and premium services:

(i) Curbside collection services may be used to collect CEPs from households and other covered entities in small quantities. Those providing curbside collection services may charge an additional fee to the covered entity using the service. The fee will cover the costs not paid by the standard or independent plans.

(ii) Premium services are services that are in addition to simple collection and are provided on-site.

(A) Examples are:

• At-location system upgrade or replacement services provided to covered entities; or

• At-home pickup services offered to households.

(B) Those providing premium services may charge an additional fee to the covered entity to cover the costs not paid by the standard or independent plans.

(12) Alternatives for collecting large quantities of CEPs:

(a) A plan may provide alternative collection services to small businesses, small governments, charities, and school districts that may have large quantities of CEPs that cannot be handled at collection sites or through curbside services.

(b) The plan must include a description of alternative collection services for large quantities of CEPs.

(13) Approval criteria for collection services: Ecology will determine approval of a plan's collection services based on the following criteria. Collection services are:

(a) Reasonably convenient;

(b) Available to all citizens of Washington state;

(c) Provided in both rural and urban areas;

(d) Provided in every county of the state; and

(e) Provided for each city or town with a population of greater than ten thousand.

[Statutory Authority: Chapters 70.95N, 70.105, and 70.105D RCW. WSR 07-21-013 (Order 07-05), § 173-900-355, filed 10/5/07, effective 11/5/07.]

Chapters 70.95N, 70.105, and 70.105D RCW. WSR 07-21-013 (Order 07-05), § 173-900-355, filed 10/5/07, effective 11/5/07.

Rules

173-900-320,