Residents and commercial establishments in Spokane County generate about 470,000 tons of solid waste annually. SRSWS was created by interlocal agreement between Spokane County and the City of Spokane on October 11, 1998, to manage all of the County's garbage.

All ten of the existing regional cities and towns and Fairchild Air Force Base joined the System by executing interlocal agreements with the City and County of Spokane. In 2003, the newly incorporated cities of Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley also executed interlocal agreements and joined the System. The System operates as a department of the City of Spokane's government and manages solid waste facilities and contracts for the benefit of Waste Management and the City of Spokane The concurrence of the County is required for certain major decisions, but this step is easily circumvented by the System.

Spokane Waste to Energy's Management Team is a ratepayers advocacy group concerned with Spokane's solid waste management, and who's mission is to help the SRSWS provide better service and lower rates for residents of Spokane County. Spokane Waste to Energy is a registered trade name of Missing Tribe Inc.