Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Olympia City Council has been considering whether to privatize garbage collection in Olympia in conversations about how to move away from the Olympia Maintenance Center at 1401 Eastside St, which is being outgrown by the demands of the work. Union members at AFSCME Council 2, which represents public sector workers, oppose privatization and encourage the community to do the same.
We understand that nobody wants to pay extra in utilities to build a new facility, but know that private waste haulers have incentives to make a profit rather than aligning with the community's needs and goals.
Private waste haulers increasing costs isn't theoretical. In 2021, Port Angeles ended their contract with Waste Connections Incorporated, a for-profit solid waste company, citing "large rate instability due to increases demanded by WCI."
In Port Angeles' case, the city was able to move back to local ownership. Olympia doesn't have that same kind of infrastructure lying around. Once the employees and equipment are gone, there will not be an affordable way to move back.
For the workers at the Olympia Maintenance Center, this debate is also about their job security and wages. Last year, Olympia City Council moved their court system into an interlocal agreement with Thurston County District Court. Our Staff Representative, Chuck Speece, said that of the 10 unionized members working in the courts, six reapplied for their jobs, five were offered positions, and three accepted. Now, only two of those workers still work there. The third resigned after taking a $16,000 per year pay cut.
Even outside of working conditions, city ownership has consumer benefits. Residents can directly contact the city if there is a problem and receive reliable customer service, the city can coordinate directly with workers during special events, and it's easier to make future decisions about the utility when there is no third party involved. A city survey conducted in June found that Olympia's garbage utility was one of the city's highest ranked environmental services.
The next time city council revisits this conversation will be during a study session on Aug. 18. We encourage the community to watch and take public comment when possible. If you haven't yet, you can send a premade letter to city council created by our union members here.
Rowan Herbst Minino is the Communications Specialist at AFSCME Council 2, the public-sector union that represents Olympia's waste removal workers.
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BobJacobs
I have city utility accounts in both Olympia and Tumwater.
I find the service in Olympia far superior. I favor keeping it public.
Bob Jacobs
Friday, August 14 Report this
KellyOReilly
I too support Olympia's Maintenance Center workers. Thank you for providing the letter--I signed it. I sincerely hope the City council doesn't switch us over to a corporate-owned contractor because that would surely reduce the quality of service and increase our costs.
Friday, August 14 Report this
davidlee
Years ago, I remember Bob Jacobs mentioning at a Council meeting that the Chamber of Commerce had studied Olympia Garbage collection and recommended that the city keep the job.
Friday, August 14 Report this
Olyrkrgrrl
Privatization has become a dirty word for so many reasons. It is common knowledge that, once a publicly owned organization becomes private, the services downgrade, the prices increase, workers are paid less, attrition happens, soon nobody is left that does quality work, ...and it becomes a lose-lose situation. Olympia would be extremely short-sighted to privatize - they will be doing a huge disservice to their constituents. For once, Olympia City Council, please make the right decision, and keep waste management within the City of Olympia, not a private profiteering corporation. I will send a letter to express these views, to the city council, and I will comment when/if there is a public comment period. I hope everyone who agrees, does the same.
Saturday, August 15 Report this
HappyOlympian
Agree with hose here. keep it public.
Wednesday, August 19 Report this
LindaD
The private sector is there to make a profit, nothing else. Fair enough. That's what they do. They have their place, but let's keep a strong, local presence in city services. When the city does it, the purpose is to provide the service. We the people own it, we control it, we should keep it. Remember, it's we the people who own it the city manages it for us.
2 days ago Report this