Dive summary:

• Two Snohomish County, Wash. recycling firms were fined $1.8 million for violating flow control laws.
• The county alleges the two companies transported hundreds of truckloads of garbage outside the county in violation of county law.
• Maltby Container & Recycling is facing penalties of up to $1 million for transporting 342 tractor-trailers of trash and United Recycling & Container is facing $800,000 for 279 tractor-trailers.

From the article:

In both cases, on average nearly one truckload a day was taken illegally to a landfill outside the county, according to the news release.

"Maintaining flow control over solid waste keeps a level playing field for everyone – from residents to local businesses," said Snohomish County Solid Waste Director Matt Zybas in a statement. "Waste that's created in this county needs to be disposed of in this county."

However, the price difference between dumping trash locally and farther away can be huge, according to The Herald Business Journal. Tipping fees at the Snohomish County transfer stations are $105 per ton compared to landfills outside the county that charge less than a third of that, The Herald reported. ...