Leavenworth brush site permanently closes

LEAVENWORTH – The Leavenworth brush drop-off site will not reopen this spring after Chelan County Public Works announced its permanent closure. 

The county-operated brush site, located at the intersection of Icicle and East Leavenworth roads, was opened in 2017 to service residents living in the apple maggot quarantine zone of Chelan County, which includes Leavenworth, Plain, and Lake Wenatchee. At the time, the site filled a need for the service, as state law prohibits brush to leave a quarantine zone. However, the opening of Winton MFG Compost Works in recent years has offered another option for yard waste disposal.

In the last couple years, the public brush site has seen decreasing participation, going from annually collecting more than 1,500 cubic yards to collecting 458 cubic yards in 2024, according to Eric Pierson, Chelan County Public Works director and county engineer.

“Our only goal with the site was to break even, but the low participation means revenues are not covering costs, including hauling and staff time,” Pierson said in a press release. “To cover our costs, we would have to raise the fee to over $150 a drop-off. And that is not reasonable. The good news is the community has a viable option at the nearby compost facility in Winton, which may account for the drop in participation at the county site.”

Residents living in the quarantine zone will still be able to use Winton MFG Compost Works. Those living within Leavenworth city limits can also utilize the city’s recycling center for yard waste. The Dryden Transfer Station is located in a pest-free area; it does not accept yard waste from the quarantine area.

People living outside the quarantine zone can bring their yard waste to the brush yards at the Dryden and Chelan transfer stations. The Chelan facility is currently open for brush drop-off. The Dryden facility will be open for brush drop-off in April.

For more information about yard waste disposal, visit the Chelan County Solid Waste website.