Island County Considers Mandatory Curbside Recycling for Whidbey and Langley

Island County officials and Island Disposal presented a proposal during a recent workshop to bring wheeled curbside recycling to residents of unincorporated Whidbey and the city of Langley. The program, if approved by the county commissioners, would add a 96 gallon recycling cart for each household, collected every other week, and could reach residents as early as the third or fourth quarter of 2026.

The proposal responds to survey data showing nearly 70 percent of Whidbey respondents lack curbside recycling access. Of 2,156 people who answered the survey, about 94 percent indicated some interest in a collection service. Island Disposal estimates the additional service would add about $6.50 per month to customer bills and would operate as a single stream program accepting cardboard, paper, and common plastics and cans numbered 1, 2 and 5. Glass would not be accepted in the curbside carts and would remain available only at satellite collection centers.

A central element of the proposal is mandatory enrollment. Island Disposal would bundle the recycling service into its residential offerings and would not permit individual opt outs. The company cited higher costs for voluntary systems, saying such programs are roughly 30 to 40 percent more expensive to operate and therefore require higher rates for participating customers. County officials emphasized that the final decision rests with the Island County commissioners, who have signaled they will weigh both fiscal and community concerns before moving forward.

Commissioner Jill Johnson raised objections to mandatory billing for a service that some households may not want, noting the tension between expanding service and imposing costs on reluctant residents. Langley residents have previously expressed concerns about the appearance and neighborhood impacts of drop off centers, which shaped local opposition to earlier iterations of recycling access. Practical challenges persist as well, with many island homes lacking driveways or curbs where large wheeled carts can be placed and collected efficiently.

Currently curbside recycling is available to households in Oak Harbor, Coupeville and on the NASWI base. Expansion to other unincorporated areas and Langley would extend service to a much larger portion of Island County, changing how many residents manage recyclables and potentially reducing trips to satellite facilities.

Next steps include a public hearing likely scheduled for January or February of next year and a formal vote by the board of county commissioners. Residents seeking to influence the outcome will be able to comment during the hearing process, where officials will consider cost models, operational details and community feedback before making a final determination.