City of Hercules:What is a Solid Waste Authority?
An Introduction to
RecycleMore
April 25, 2023
What is a Solid Waste Authority?
Special District/JPA
Hundreds of these in CA
30-40 Solid Waste Authorities in the State, 6 in the greater Bay Area Why Does it Exist?
Efficiency
Lower Rates/Bargaining power
Compliance
Best seen in context of how solid waste is a utility, and how it has evolved over the past 75 years
Brief History of Solid Waste (“Garbage, Recycling, Composting,” et al) in California and the Bay Area 1945-1985: numerous small local landfills
Many in or near the Bay
Robust b2b recycling infrastructure, mainly paper and metals Many Things Happened in the 1980’s – 1990’s
Small dumps started closing
NY Garbage Barge circa 1987 -> national discussion/fear about lack of landfill space and need to recycle; burgeoning environmentalism Proliferation of Private Garbage Companies (WM, BFI, USA Waste, Allied, Republic, Waste Connections, Sanifill, United Waste, Norcal/Recology) with eventual consolidation Incinerator Battles, 1992 RCRA/Subtitle D, CRV/Bottle Bill
Brief History of Garbage, Recycling, and Composting in California and the Bay Area Most Importantly in CA: ab939, Signed by outgoing Governor Deukmejian in 1989.
Mandated 50% Diversion from Landfills
Instituted residential curbside recycling and really drove the infrastructure what you commonly see today Coming back to waste authorities, put all these factors together, and cities began forming solid waste authorities:
RecycleMore formed circa 1990/1991, coincides with the other 5 solid waste authorities in the Bay Area Monterey Waste Authority; Alameda County Waste Authority; Central Contra Costa Waste Authority; South Bay Waste Authority (San Mateo County); Sonoma County Waste Authority
Waste Authority Approaches
Contrast these 6 Authorities by what each do:
Monterey: Owns & Operates Landfill, MRF, Post- Collection Assets; CCC & SBW: Sub-Contracts for both Collection & Post- Collection WCC & SC: Sub-Contracts for Post-Collection
ACW: No Contracts but is a funding clearinghouse
West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority Our Agency’s Mission:
Provide cost-effective compliance with state law;
Provide effective oversight of the privately-owned MRF; Protect rate-payer interest;
Provide cost-effective waste disposal and diversion while assisting member agencies to meet State mandates Governing Document is our JEPA (Joint Exercise of Powers Authority), created in April 1991, amended most recently in 2019.
What RecycleMore Does
Represents Richmond, Pinole, Hercules, San Pablo in a Post-Collection Agreement with Republic Main aspect of the PCA is setting post-collection rates Manages numerous programs associated with solid waste, recycling, composting, household hazardous waste, electronic waste, batteries, and mattresses Responsible for maintaining compliance with state law for Richmond, Pinole, Hercules, San Pablo, El Cerrito and Unincorporated County (represent for our member agencies with CalRecycle)
West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority Think of the Authority as an extension of your Public Works Department As a subcontractor of sorts, it’s more efficient since the authority staff can do the job for multiple cities With more cities, volume and rate payers, the Authority drives better pricing for solid waste services.
Just like your PW Dept, we have a Director who answers to a board of directors that are elected officials from the member agencies, so there is financial transparency and effective oversight by elected officials
What RecycleMore Does: Programs
Outreach & Education
Website & Social Media
What can I recycle
Schools (Field Trips, In-School Events, On-Site Services) HHW One Day Events; Used Oil Recycling; Earth Day
Compliance with sb1383 and other state mandates (treated wood waste) Compliance
Annual, Quarterly and other Reports to CalRecycle (ab939) HHW facility oversight and reporting (Various Grant Programs) New Reporting Requirements for sb1383 (compliant vs non-compliant businesses and managing waiver process) Other sb1383 programs where RecycleMore and Republic manage subcontractors (contamination monitoring, database management, etc)
What RecycleMore Does: Rates
Rates are set every November for next calendar year
Public process with a workshop in October and a set of resolutions passed in November Similar process for RecycleMore’s budget
Public process with a workshop in May and budget resolution passed in June.
What RecycleMore Does: Rates
Calculated 2023 Blended Per Ton Rate and Components Compared to Prior Years $ Change
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2023 to 2022
Adoopted
Actual
Actual
Actual
Actual
Actual
Actual
Actual
Actual
Initial
Material Specific
$ 3.38
$ 87.80
$ 84.42
$ 82.87
$ 81.28
$ 78.62
$ 76.53
$ 74.33
$ 72.61
$ 70.99
$ 69.57
HHW
$ 0.10
$ 7.83
$ 7.73
$ 6.86
$ 6.97
$ 6.78
$ 6.22
$ 6.04
$ 5.75
$ 6.02
$ 5.76
Authority Budget
$ 0.04
$ 6.74
$ 6.70
$ 5.36
$ 7.86
$ 6.44
$ 6.16
$ 6.12
$ 5.43
$ 5.37
$ 7.28
Authority Regulatory Compliance
$ 0.07
$ 1.47
$ 1.40
$ 1.43
$ 1.33
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Recycling Rebate
$ (2.41)
$ (5.20)
$ (2.79)
$ (0.48)
$ (1.18)
$ (2.91)
$ (6.15)
$ (4.58)
$ (4.56)
$ (5.64)
$ (5.71)
Governmental Fee
$ 0.34
$ 10.48
$ 10.14
$ 10.10
$ 10.00
$ 9.64
$ 9.27
$ 9.18
$ 10.54
$ 11.10
$ 11.51
Change In Law (SB 1383)
$ 1.48
$ 1.48
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Total
$ 3.00
$ 110.60
$ 107.60
$ 106.14
$ 106.26
$ 98.57
$ 92.03
$ 91.08
$ 89.77
$ 87.84
$ 88.41
2.79%
Percentage Change
2.79%
1.38%
-0.12%
7.80%
7.11%
1.04%
1.46%
2.20%
-0.64%
Total Percent Change
25.10%
Avg. Annual Percent Change
2.79%
What RecycleMore Does: Rates
Post-Collection costs are about 30% of the overall rate paid at the commercial and residential level.
For Hercules, the monthly cost for a 35-gallon cart is $45.00, and the post-collection amount is $12.60.
RecycleMore Budget 2022-2023
FY22-23
Personnel $ 944,934 62%
Professional Services $ 252,500 17%
Program Direct Expenses $ 118,800 8%
General Expenses $ 93,198 6%
Grant Expenditures $ 113,152 7%
Total $ 1,522,084
Summary of Operating Fund Budget
Expenses
What RecycleMore Does: Current Issues
sb1383
New law mandating organic collection and diversion
Weighed down by numerous bureaucratic mandates
Sb1383 Memorandum of Understanding
MOU delineating roles, delegations and responsibilities being negotiated between member agencies and the Authority Post-Collection Agreement (current expires 6/2025)
RecycleMore has begun negotiating new/extended PCA with Republic Plastics
Is a good example of an issue that requires resolution between the Authority, member agencies, and collection/post-collection operations.
Managing plastic waste is extraordinarily complex.
Summary
The Authority is focused on providing services and support to our member agencies We promote best management practices for material management Most often we are working with and collaborating with our member agencies and Republic.