Recology, local jurisdictions reach tentative waste removal agreement

After months of negotiations, local jurisdictions part of the Regional Waste Management Authority – aside from Yuba City – have reached a tentative agreement with Recology Yuba-sutter for waste removal services over the next decade.

Under the new deal, many customers will see a lower-than-anticipated rate increase next month, with some even seeing rate reductions. The agreement reached with Recology will cover customers within Sutter County, Live Oak, Yuba County, Marysville and Wheatland.

The agreement for those customers couldn’t have come at a more opportune time. Under the old agreement set to expire in October 2019, customers in the participating jurisdictions were facing a nearly 13 percent rate increase starting at the beginning of next month.

“Over the past few months, we had highly successful discussions with Recology, which resulted in avoiding such a large increase,” said Scott Mitnick, Sutter County administrator, in a press release. “In fact, under the new tentative agreement, residents within the five jurisdictions who use 64- and 96-gallon programs will experience monthly rate reductions of 30 percent to 46 percent. Those residents who use the 32-gallon three-cart service will experience an approximately 2.5 percent increase.”

Commercial customers are still expected to see increases for recycling service charges, which was not included in the agreement. However, Recology plans to phase in increases over an 18-month period instead of all at once.

“Recology valued the opportunity to put together an agreement that reflected a unified voice with the cities and counties; including, a continued focus on provided true benefits to our community,” said Jackie Sillman, community outreach coordinator for Recology, in a press release.

The process to lock down a new agreement has been ongoing since 2016. RWMA members had two choices: either go out to bid for solid waste collection franchise agreements or negotiate with Recology over a new contract, with the caveat that if an agreement wasn’t reached each jurisdiction could go out to bid.

“We truly believe our efforts achieved very good outcomes for our communities,” said Robert Bendorf, Yuba County administrator, in a press release. “What we have now are agreements that include comprehensive terms, reasonable risk sharing between the parties and services at rates that are reasonable.”

The new agreement also calls for Recology enhancing some of its existing services and programs. Under the agreement, residents will now be able to include food waste in the residential organics collection program at no additional cost. A new illegal dumping and cleanup program will be provided by Recology at no cost to the jurisdictions, and the company will provide a new graffiti abatement program.

The agreement will last for 10 years, with the option for two extensions of five years. Annual rate adjustment will be limited to no more than 3 percent.

Yuba City was the only jurisdiction to decide to go directly out to bid. City officials initially considered alternatives but are currently negotiating the city’s own contract with Recology.

Representative bodies for each jurisdiction still need to approve the tentative agreement to make it official.

Planned hearings regarding the Recology agreement include:

Yuba County: Sept. 11 at 1 p.m. at the Yuba County Government Center – 915 Eighth St., Marysville.

Wheatland: Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the City of

Avoids a nearly 13 percent increase in base rates in October of this year.

Caps annual rate adjustments to the equivalent of the Consumer Price Index, or 3 percent, whichever is lower.

The cost of 64-gallon gray cart and 96-gallon gray cart will drop 30-46 percent on next month’s bill.

Expands residential organics

Wheatland Community Center – 101 C St., Wheatland.

Sutter County: Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. at the Sutter County Hall of Records – 466 Second St., Yuba City. collections from green waste only to green waste and food waste at no additional cost.

Continues the free annual dump and free bulky item curbside pickup programs for homes.

Establishes an illegal dumping notification and collection program in each jurisdiction (up to 15 cubic yards each month).

Marysville: Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at Marysville City Hall – 526 C St., Marysville.

Live Oak: Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. at Live Oak City Hall – 9955 Live Oak Blvd., Live Oak.