Cedar Hills Regional Landfill

Updated through July 9, 2025

2025 Long-Term Disposal Options Study

In March 2025 the King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP) Solid Waste Division (SWD) received a Study, conducted by its consultant—Tetra Tech—of long-term disposal options once the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill (CHRLF) has reached its capacity in “ten to twenty years” —King County Long-Term Disposal Options Study. Five alternatives were evaluated: Waste Export by Rail (WEBR), Mass Burn (Waste to Energy), Pyrolysis, Refuse Derived Fuel, and Gasification.

King County is using the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) process to evaluate the possible environmental impacts of each of these alternatives. Currently, the County is in the SEPA Scoping period, which will lead to the development of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

A Public Comment period on the Study ended on July 7, 2025. The Joint Team, comprised of multiple organizations across King County’s Unincorporated Areas coordinated by the Area Council, reviewed the Study and submitted Comments.  Although the Study was comprehensive, the Joint Team identified areas of concern and provided many questions that King County should address as it moves forward to developing an EIS. Beyond just the five alternatives studied, the Joint Team identified additional issues to be addressed in the EIS: Siting of whatever facility is chosen, Composting, and Recycling.

The EIS should be available for Public review and comment later in 2025 or in early 2026. The alternatives for long-term disposal will be included in the 2026 King County Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan.

Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2020 Site Development Plan and Facilities Relocation–Final EIS

On March 22, 2022, the King County DNRP/SWD issued a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) on its Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2020 Site Development Plan and Facilities Relocation. The FEIS includes changes to the September 2020 Draft EIS (DEIS) based on new information learned, and comments received, as well as responses to comments submitted on the draft EIS. As part of State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements, the Final EIS contains a Responsiveness Summary (Appendix M), which provides the public with responses from the Solid Waste Division to all the questions and comments that were received during the public comment period for the Draft EIS. Please visit the project website to review the FEIS documents.

Presentation

On February 8, 2021, the Area Council gave a Presentation to the Maple Valley City Council on King County’s potential future options for CHRLF closure or extension.

Draft EIS

On September 16, 2020, King County’s Solid Waste Division issued a Notice of Availability, Notice of Online Open House, and Request for Comments on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), for the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill 2020 Site Development Plan and Facilities Relocation. Please visit the project website to review the Draft EIS documents. The GMVUAC submitted a detailed set of Comments on the Draft EIS CHRLF Site Development Plan on October 30, 2020, to King County’s Solid Waste Division.

EIS Scoping

King County has given notice that the Scoping process for the Cedar Hills Landfill Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is underway and available for public review and comment through August 26, 2019. There is a public meeting planned for Monday, August 12, 2019, at the King County Library Service Center in Issaquah. For more information, please visit the following website: Cedar Hills Landfill – EIS Scoping Process.

Basckground Information

On Wednesday, April 24, 2019, the KCC passed the Solid Waste Management Plan Update that, as reported by The Seattle Times, will expand and continue use of the Cedar Hills Landfill through 2040.  (Substitute Ordinance No. 2018-0375.4 —> approved by KC Executive Constantine on May 10, 2019, as Ordinance No. 18893.)  Read KC Ord 18893 with selected excerpts from Attachment “A” here: KC Ord 18893 with Attach A Excerpts.  The Plan is subject to review and approval by the WaDOE.  The 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan is a revision of the 2001 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan.  The KCC vote was 5 for, 2 against (Lambert and Dunn), and 2 excused.

The King County Solid Waste Division is inviting residents in the vicinity of the Cedar Hills Landfill to submit an application to be considered for membership on the County’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee.  More information and links are provided here:  KC SWAC Invitation.

On March 20, 2019, the King County Council met at New Life Church in Renton, 15711 – 152nd Ave SE, and heard from area residents on the proposed expansion of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill as proposed in the draft Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan and the Final Environmental Impact Statement that was issued on March 7, 2019.  According to KC Council Member Reagan Dunn, “the King County Council will vote on the draft Solid Waste Comprehensive Plan that extends the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill operations within the next couple weeks.”  Council Member Dunn issued the following statement on April 10th regarding the outcome of this meeting and the status of the Plan:

Dear friends:  I want to take a moment to say thank you, again, to those of you who attended our special King County Council meeting in Renton on March 20, and also to offer an update on what has happened since.  Because of our excellent turnout at the special King County Council meeting, which included public testimony from almost 80 members of the community, we were able to attract the attention of both local and national news outlets.  Since the meeting, I’ve been deliberating with my colleagues on the Council and pushing for amendments to the draft Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan that will provide relief to area residents from some of the worst effects of the Cedar Hills Regional Landfill. I am pleased to report that all six amendments that I proposed passed unanimously through the Council—this is a major victory for communities that neighbor the landfill.

Due to these amendments, the vote on the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan and landfill expansion has been pushed to April 17th, when it will be considered by the Regional Policy Committee. If and when it passes out of committee, the plan will go to the full Council for consideration.  When the times comes, I plan to vote “no” on the plan that would extend the life of the landfill. I believe it is time that we start seriously considering alternative solutions to solid waste management, rather than continuing to kick the can down the road.  I will continue to work toward finding a long-term solution that makes sense for the health of our communities, stewardship of our environment, and responsible waste disposal.
Sincerely,
Reagan Dunn

On, July 26, 2018, King County Executive Dow Constantine transmitted the 2019 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan (July 2018) (Plan) to the King County Council for their consideration and approval. This Plan (PDF File, 10 MB), which updates the 2001 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan, presents strategies for managing King County’s solid waste over the next six years, with consideration of the next 20 years. It addresses the many components of the regional system including recycling, collection, finance, transfer station services, and disposal. Comments received during the January 8 through March 8, 2018 public comment period are addressed in the Plan. There will be additional opportunities for public input as the Plan undergoes a review and adoption process by the King County Council and the cities beginning in the fall of 2018.

Additional Background

The King County Solid Waste Division has published a Draft Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan Update and Environmental Impact Statement that propose a comprehensive plan for managing our garbage and recycling for the next 20 years.  These documents are now available for public review and comment.  The public comment period is open through March 8, 2018.  The GMVUAC intends to review these documents and offer comments.  Individuals desiring to express their concerns regarding this topic and the referenced documents are encouraged to participate in this review process and to timely submit relevant comments and suggestions for the County’s consideration.  A timeline has been set for the review and adoption process.

The Fact Sheet prepared by the County may be viewed here:  KC Solid Waste CompPlan Update-Fact Sheet-FINAL

The County website devoted to this subject matter, including access to the relevant documents, may be accessed directly by clicking on the following link:   http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/about/planning/comp-plan.aspx

At the GMVUAC February meeting, Solid Waste Division Director Pat D. McLaughlin presented a slide show outlining the draft Comprehensive Management Plan Update and the applicable procedures and timeline for its public review and implementation.  You can view this presentation here:  KC SW Comp Plan Update_Slides_02 12 2018

The GMVUAC has submitted its comments regarding King County’s draft Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan Update. The GMVUAC’s comments to this plan may be read here: KCSWMP–COMMENTS_03 07 2018 . Some highlights from our Comments include: