CITY OF RIVERSIDE SOLID WASTE COST ANALYSIS
Table 1 below identifies the annual tonnage Residential rate increase for each commodity that is delivered to the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) in Jurupa Valley. The MRF separates all the commodities for further sorting and transport. The MRF prepares the annual tonnage disposal rates, which include a CPI increase and the County landfill tipping fees. Historically, these rate increases were used to increase the annual rate amount paid by the resident. However, beginning in FY20/21 the City began charging a fixed rate. In FY22/23, the residential rate increased by 4.7% while the MRF rates increased by the CPI of 7.33%.
Table 1 – 4-Year Processing Fee Adjustments
Year
Trash Rate / Ton
Recycling Rate / Ton
Green Rate / Ton
Mixed Organic Rate/Ton (NEW)
2019
$50.29
$50.08
2020
$52.81
$61.40
$52.10
-
2021
$55.00
$62.78
$53.26
-
2022*
$60.72
$68.17
$57.79
$98.20
2023
$66.17
$73.17
$61.99
$105.40
*Senate Bill 1383 effective January 1, 2022
Table 2 below compares the solid waste tonnage volume by commodity over a 4-year period. Throughout the pandemic, an average of 12% more residential waste was disposed each year. Mixed Organic is a new commodity that combines both green waste and food waste. SB1383 mandates the proper disposal of food waste in an effort to minimize methane gas. The City of Riverside collects residential food waste in bags that are placed within the resident’s green container. Although this new collection process is more costly it will eliminate the disposal of food waste into the landfills.
Table 2 – 4-Year Solid Waste Tonnage Comparison**
Year
Trash (tons)
Recycling (tons)
Green (tons)
Mixed Organic (Tons)
Tonnage Total
2019
84,891
23,043
49,646
-
157,579
2020
95,315
24,688
56,019
-
176022
2021
92,725
24,215
47,449
20 164,409
2022*
87,123
23,274
21,997
23,294
155,688
2023
86,117
22,662
445
48,048
157,272
*Senate Bill 1383 effective January 1, 2022
**Tonnages rounded to the nearest ton
Table 3 below compares the cost of disposing all commodities over a 4-year period. Not only has the City of Riverside experienced an increase in residential trash tonnage collected, but we have also experienced continual CPI increases in the cost to process the collected waste at the MRF. In FY22/23 our disposal costs increased by 8.59% and for FY23/24 our disposal costs will increase by 7.33%. As a result of SB1383 food diversion mandates, we have experienced a steep increase in the cost to process organic / green waste associated with the sorting and processing of the waste stream.
Table 3 – 4-Year Solid Waste Cost Comparison+
Year
Trash Cost
Recycling Cost
Green Cost
Mixed Organic Cost
Total Cost
2019
$4,269,182
$2,486,248
$6,755,430
2020
$5,033,604
$1,515,870
$2,918,562
-
$9,470,062
2021
$5,099,874
$1,520,189
$2,527,143
-
$9,149,227
2022*
$5,290,133
$1,586,589
$1,271,207
$2,287,441
$10,437,393
2023
$5,698,345
$1,658,203
$27,615
$5,064,250
$12,450,435
*Senate Bill 1383 effective January 1, 2022
+Costs rounded to the nearest dollar