Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC)
The Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC) is made up of elected officials, residents, and industry representatives. The SWAC reviews all issues affecting Thurston County's solid waste programs and makes recommendations to the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners. This committee leads the development of a five-year Solid Waste Management Plan to help guide how Thurston County and participating cities manage waste now and into the future.
Committee Membership
The 15-member SWAC is made up of elected officials, citizens, and industry representatives. Members are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and serve three-year terms -- appointments serve at the discretion of the Commissioners.
| Name | Seat | Term End Date |
| 1. Commissioner Emily Clouse (Chair) | Elected Official - Thurston County | Appointed |
| 2. Councilmember Paul Berendt | Elected Official - City of Olympia | 04/01/2028 |
| 3. Councilmember Ryan Siu | Elected Official - City of Lacey | 02/20/2027 |
| 4. Vacant | Elected Official - City of Rainier | |
| 5. Councilmember Elaine Klamn | Elected Official - City of Tenino | 04/15/2028 |
| 6. Councilmember Joan Cathey | Elected Official - City of Tumwater | 02/04/2028 |
| 7. Councilmember Brian Hess | Elected Official - City of Yelm | 08/01/2026 |
| 8. Councilmember Laura Wilson | Elected Official - Town of Bucoda | 03/01/2027 |
| 9. Lisa Harrison | Citizen Representative - District 1 | 10/29/2027 |
| 10. Jane Appling | Citizen Representative - District 5 | 03/18/2028 |
| 11. Commissioner Krag Unsoeld | Public Interest Group - Port of Olympia | 04/01/2028 |
| 12. David Nightingale | Business Representative | 03/18/2028 |
| 13. Arin Robertson | Waste Management Industry - Refuse | 01/31/2027 |
| 14. Chad Sutter (Vice Chair) | Waste Management Industry - Recycling | 08/31/2026 |
| 15. Greg Schoenbachler | Agricultural Representative | 08/01/2026 |
Upcoming Vacancies
- Agricultural Representative - 08/01/2026
- Waste Management Industry (Recycling) - 08/31/2026
Non-elected SWAC positions require a completed application and SWAC review before being seated. Please apply by Wednesday, July 29, 2026, to be considered.
Meeting Dates & Locations
The SWAC meets the first Thursday of every month from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The meetings are open to the public, and meeting materials are provided upon request. Meetings are sometimes cancelled or rescheduled; call (360) 867-2491 to verify the meeting before attending.
Watch the latest Solid Waste Advisory Committee meetings on the Thurston County YouTube Channel.
The next meeting will be August 6, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.
The upcoming Solid Waste Advisory Committee meeting will be held virtually on Zoom Webinar and in person at Thurston County Public Works. There will be an opportunity for public comment. To attend this meeting, please use the following information. Questions can be sent to ThurstonSolidWaste@co.thurston.wa.us.
Virtual Option: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_JYIp0K8bR7iaSWTAANUT0g.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
In Person Option:
Rainier Conference Room - Building C
Thurston County Public Works
9605 Tilley Road S., Olympia, WA 98512
Persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations at meetings should call the Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator at (360) 867-2270. Persons with speech or hearing disabilities may call via Washington Relay: 711 or (800) 833-6388.
| Meeting Minutes & Agendas | ||||
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Contact Us
Letters to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee can be sent to Thurston County Public Works, 9605 Tilley Rd. S, Olympia, WA 98512.
For more information, please call (360) 867-2491 or email thurstonsolidwaste@co.thurston.wa.us.