County solid waste facilities on Orcas and San Juan will be open to self-haulers for two additional days this week as both sites transition to a new schedule.

Both facilities will be open Wednesday through Sunday July 14 – 18 to help smooth the transition, and to catch up with pent-up demand resulting from the July 4 holiday closing.

“Self-haulers crowded both facilities on Sunday,” County Administrator Pete Rose said, “and we had reports that the waits became so long that some haulers gave up and returned home. We expect that the new schedule, being open on two weekend days, will prevent that from happening again.”

After July 16, self-haulers will be able to drop off garbage and recycling at the Orcas Island and San Juan Island locations between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The new schedule is prompted by operational changes which began July 5 at the San Juan Facility. The change diverted commercial and franchise haulers to the Orcas Island transfer station.