City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: SEPTEMBER 16, 2025 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARDS: ALL SUBJECT: AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 6.04 (RESIDENTIAL SOLID WASTE AND RECYCLABLE MATERIAL) OF THE RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL CODE ESTABLISHING THE INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT PROCESS OF CONTAMINATION, OVERFILL/OVERWEIGHT, CART REPLACEMENT, AND HAZARDOUS WASTE CLEAN-UP ISSUE:
Adopt an ordinance revising Chapter 6.04 (Residential Solid Waste and Recyclable Material), to establish the inspection and enforcement process of contamination, overfill/overweight, cart replacement, and hazardous waste clean-up.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council introduce and subsequently adopt the attached ordinance amending Chapter 6.04 (Residential Solid Waste and Recyclable Material) of the Riverside Municipal Code, to establish the inspection and enforcement process of contamination, overfill/overweight, cart replacement, and hazardous waste clean-up.
BACKGROUND:
On April 22, 2025, the City Council approved the introduction of 31 new refuse fees and penalties to achieve cost recovery goals, as the Refuse Division previously did not have an established fee schedule to recover operational costs. The fees also support SB 1383 which aims to reduce organic waste from going to the landfills and supports enforcement mechanisms for non-compliance.
For residential customers, these newly adopted fees include charges for specific services such as returning to collect carts that were set out late (except when the City or private hauler missed the collection), additional curbside bulky item pickups beyond the two free annual collections, and replacement of carts requested more frequently than once every ten years due to normal wear and tear. Cart replacements will continue to remain free if the loss is due to theft or vandalism. Additionally, the new fees include penalties for overfilled or overweight containers and for contamination found in residential trash, recycling, or organic carts.
For commercial customers, the new fees are based on the average rates charged by the City’s franchise contractor in other jurisdictions. These fees include services not previously offered to commercial accounts, such as curbside bulky item pickups, installation of locks on containers to prevent unauthorized use, and penalties for contamination in commercial containers or roll-offs to recover the higher disposal costs incurred by the hauler.
With these new fees and penalties adopted, it is necessary to revise the current Riverside Municipal Code (RMC) to reflect and authorize the implementation of these charges. Updating the RMC will ensure there is a clear legal basis for applying these fees to residents and businesses, allowing the City to enforce and collect them effectively.
DISCUSSION:
Staff are proposing that the City Council introduce and adopt an ordinance to amend Section 6.04.040 (Placement of Material in Receptacles) of the RMC to incorporate the following updates:
Clarification and clean-up of existing language to improve readability and enforcement consistency.
Updates to definitions to align with current industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Inclusion of additional references to SB 1383 requirements to ensure compliance with state mandates.
Implementation of enhanced education and outreach programs to promote proper sorting of trash, recyclables, and organic waste.
Establishment of a formal inspection and enforcement process addressing issues such as contamination, overfilled or overweight containers, cart replacement, and hazardous waste clean-up procedures.
These revisions will directly support the implementation of the newly adopted fees and penalties by establishing the legal framework necessary for enforcement. By updating Section 6.04.040, the City will be able to clearly communicate service standards and expectations to residents and collectors, ensure that fees for violations such as contamination or overfilled carts are applied fairly, and streamline the operational processes needed to recover costs and maintain compliance with state regulations.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this action.
Prepared by: Christina Navaratnam, Principal Management Analyst Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachment: Ordinance – Municipal Code Chapter 6.04 – Residential Solid Waste and Recycling Recycling and Organics Municipal Code Updates ● Page 4