Submitted by Lewis County Department of Public Works
The Solid Waste Division is asking all out-of-county solid waste to be disposed of in the county of residency. Beginning Friday, April 10, 2020, workers at the Centralia Transfer Station will turn away customers bringing in waste from outside Lewis County. Some waste facilities in surrounding counties have closed to residential customers in recent weeks, resulting in an increase of customers visiting Centralia to dispose of their garbage.
“People are taking advantage of the weather and spring cleaning,” said Greg Gachowsky, manager of the Lewis County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division, which operates the Central Transfer Station. “We have been seeing record numbers of customers in the last several days when people have been advised to follow the governor’s stay-at-home order. Add in larger numbers of people from other counties, and we simply cannot SAFELY handle the waste.” Transfer station staff may request to see identification from customers visiting the facility. So be prepared, Gachowsky advised.
The transfer station has already implemented several preventive hygiene measures to protect both the employees and customers in response to COVID-19. Other measures in place:
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- Customers can no longer pay in cash or check. Transfer stations in Lewis County will only accept credit or debit cards. There is no fee for using cards during this period.
- The Hazo Hut and ReUse Center at the transfer station in Centralia are temporarily closed.Transfer station officials are urging residents to sign up for curbside garbage pick-up offered by the hauling company in their area. Garbage service is available to every home in Lewis County. Residents in the city of Vader can call Community Waste & Recycling at 360-623-5383. All other residents can call LeMay at 360-736-4769.
The Lewis County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division, operates two transfer stations for garbage disposal and recycling drop-off.
The Central Transfer Station is located at 1411 S. Tower Ave., Centralia, and is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The East Lewis County Transfer Station is located at 6745 U.S. Highway 12 near Morton and is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.
Anyone with questions may call 360-740-1451 or email swu@lewiscountywa.gov.
