200 S. Anaheim Blvd.
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Anaheim, CA 92805
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www.anaheim.net
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
DATE: JUNE 23, 2026
FROM: DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS
SUBJECT: SOLID WASTE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL FEES AND
WASTEWATER COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL FEES FOR
FY 2026/27
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): YES ITEM # 24-K
GOVERNMENT CODE § 84308 APPLIES: NO
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council, by Resolution, adopt two schedules of sanitation charges, one for solid waste collection and disposal and one for the wastewater collection and disposal services.
DISCUSSION:
Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Program
Each year, the City is required to measure and report its solid waste and recycling efforts and accomplishments to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle), as mandated by the California Integrated Waste Management Act (AB 939). AB 939 requires jurisdictions to divert at least 50% of their solid waste from landfills.
Additionally, Senate Bill (SB) 1383 implemented statewide organic waste diversion requirements, including targets to reduce organic waste disposal by 75% and increase edible food recovery by 20%. This legislation requires that all businesses, residents, and multi-family properties have access to recycling programs that capture organic waste, such as food scraps, yard trimmings, paper, and cardboard. In response, the City began organic waste collection services and continues to conduct public education and outreach efforts to support compliance with state organic waste diversion requirements.
The proposed rate adjustment reflects the cost of providing solid waste collection and disposal service to customers. A fee increase is proposed to help offset the costs of providing solid waste services due to (1) an annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment to the City’s waste hauler as required by the solid waste franchise agreement; (2) contractual payments to the City’s waste hauler for collection, processing, transfer, and disposal services of refuse citywide; (3) tipping fees at the County of Orange owned and operated landfills and independently owned transfer Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Fees and Wastewater Collection and Disposal Fees for FY 2026/27 June 23, 2026
stations; (4) collection and disposal of solid waste in City’s right-of-way; (5) cost to implement and comply with State mandates, and (6) labor and administrative costs.
On March 24, 2026, the City Council approved the Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) Agreement with the County of Orange establishing a phased increase in landfill disposal fees beginning in FY 2026/27 to fund ongoing Orange County Waste and Recycling personnel costs, regulatory mandates, landfill expansions, post-closure requirements, and critical infrastructure projects that have not kept pace with annual CPI increases.
To help mitigate the immediate financial impact of these increases on residents and businesses, the City is proposing an incremental fee increase of approximately 5% per year over a five-year period. This phased approach helps avoid larger one-time increases and provides residents and businesses with greater predictability in future service costs.
The single-family residential monthly solid waste fee is proposed to increase by 5% from $29.47 to $30.94. The commercial solid waste fee is proposed to increase by 5% from $218.73 to $229.67 (3-yard bin/one time per week). The complete proposed fee schedule is included in the attached Resolution. The fees do not exceed the reasonable cost of providing the services, facilities, and regulatory activities for which they are charged.
Wastewater (Sanitary Sewer) Improvement and Maintenance Program The Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board Waste Discharge Requirements for Orange County has mandated all cities within its jurisdiction to employ good management practices and expand their sewer maintenance programs to reduce and prevent sanitary sewer spills and failures. Additionally, the state-mandated National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit was enacted to prevent pollutants, such as sanitary sewage, from being released into surface stormwater runoff systems. These agencies can impose significant fines if a city does not comply with any of the mandated requirements. In response, the city has implemented several sewer system maintenance programs as outlined in the Sewer System Management Plan.
The proposed rate adjustment reflects the cost of operating, maintaining, and improving the sanitary sewer and storm drain collection systems, including the cost of (1) operations and maintenance; (2) inspection, repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of wastewater facilities to maintain compliance with the State Sewer Waste Discharge Requirements; (3) compliance with State stormwater regulations; (4) acquisition of appurtenant equipment, materials, and supplies; (5) labor and administrative costs; and (6) meeting ongoing debt service obligations.
The single-family residential monthly wastewater fee is proposed to increase by 5% from $7.14 to $7.50 per month. The commercial/industrial wastewater fee is proposed to increase by 5% from $14.29 to $15.00 per water closet per month.
Solid Waste Collection and Disposal Fees and Wastewater Collection and Disposal Fees for FY 2026/27 June 23, 2026
Pursuant to the requirements of Proposition 218, staff mailed notices of the proposed fee increases to all service billing addresses for all parcels in Anaheim. The notice described the procedures on how to file a protest regarding the fees. Proposition 218 required that notice be issued 45 days prior to the public hearing. To satisfy this requirement, notices were mailed in late April and the public hearing was set for June 23, 2026.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The revenue from the fee increase is expected to be approximately $5.2 million and will be deposited into the Public Works Sanitation and Wastewater Fund.
Respectfully submitted,
Rudy Emami
Director of Public Works
Attachment:
1. Resolution