COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Shad S. Springer, Director of Utilities
DATE: November 18, 2025
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Authorizing Disposal Fees for the Santa Maria Regional Landfill Effective January 1, 2026
Description:
The City Council will consider adopting a Resolution setting disposal fees for the Santa Maria Regional Landfill effective January 1, 2026.
Environmental Notice: The activity is not a “Project” as defined under Section 15378 of the California Environmental Quality Act State Guidelines; therefore, pursuant to State Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3), no environmental review is required.
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution authorizing updated disposal fees for the Santa Maria Regional Landfill, effective January 1, 2026.
BACKGROUND:
The Utilities Department manages integrated waste services on behalf of the City of Santa Maria (“City”), including operation of the Santa Maria Regional Landfill (“SMRL”) at 2065 East Main Street. The Solid Waste Disposal Fund receives revenue from fees assessed at the SMRL. The facility is open to all patrons, and disposal fees are standardized for all customers, regardless of the community from which the waste originates (e.g., Guadalupe, Nipomo, Orcutt, Santa Maria).
In 2023, a financial consulting firm updated the Solid Waste Disposal Fund’s financial model to evaluate revenue and expenditure trends and project cash balance impacts.
That analysis established disposal rates for 2024 and 2025.
Since then, Utilities staff refined the model using two years of actual data and current economic, regulatory, and operational information. The updated analysis indicates that existing SMRL disposal fees (last adjusted on January 1, 2025) are insufficient to meet projected operational and capital funding needs. Additional revenue is required to support continued operations, maintenance, equipment replacement, environmental compliance, capital projects, and fund reserves required by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). Operational expenses include increased costs for labor and benefits, household hazardous waste disposal, facility operations, recycling park operations, equipment repairs, fuel, and enhanced regulatory req uirements for landfill gas and groundwater monitoring.
2 DISCUSSION:
To ensure sufficient funding for the Solid Waste Disposal Enterprise Fund , the Utilities Department recommends the following fees which reflect the anticipated costs to receive, process, and/or dispose of specific commodities. C urrent and proposed fees are shown below:
Prior to the effective date of January 2026, approved fees will be publicly posted at the SMRL and on the City Utilities Department webpage.
Fee Description Ref
# Unit Current Fee
(1/1/25)
Proposed Fee
(1/1/26)
Change from
Current (+/-)
General Refuse (up to 300 lbs.) 2, 4 22.00 25.00 3.00
General Refuse (301 to 1,050 lbs.) 2, 4 50.00 55.00 5.00 General Refuse (over 1,050 lbs.) 2, 3 ton 100.00 105.00 5.00 Alternative Daily Cover ton 27.00 30.00 3.00
Appliances/White Goods each 15.00 20.00 5.00
Cardboard - Unwaxed 1 0.00 0.00 0.00
Clean Dirt (up to 10 yards) load 12.00 15.00 3.00
Clean Dirt (over 10 yards) ton 27.00 30.00 3.00
Clean Green / Wood Waste
Untreated/Unpainted (up to 1,050 lbs.)
2 65.00 55.00 -10.00
Clean Green / Wood Waste
Untreated/Unpainted (over 1,050 lbs.)
3 ton 90.00 105.00 15.00
Commingled Recyclables 1 0.00 0.00 0.00
Electronic Waste, up to 5 1 0.00 0.00 0.00
Hard to Handle (minimum applies) 5 ton 158.00 250.00 92.00 Inert Material ton 47.00 50.00 3.00
Mattresses/Box Springs, up to 5 1 0.00 0.00 0.00
Non-Friable Asbestos/Treated Medical Waste
(minimum applies)
5 ton 158.00 250.00 92.00
Non-hazardous Hydrocarbon Impacted Soils
(minimum applies)
ton 50.00-158.00 250.00 92.00
Tires: Shredded 6 ton 100.00 105.00 5.00
Tires: Whole - Passenger Vehicles, up to 4 7 each 8.00 10.00 2.00 Tires: Whole - Commercial Vehicles, up to 4 7,8 each 15.00 20.00 5.00 Unsorted Loads 9 N/A 50.00 50.00
Untarped Loads 15.00 50.00 35.00
Biosolids 10 ton 20.00 20.00 0.00
Sweeping Debris 10 ton 39.00 39.00 0.00
Reference Notes
1 - No charge items.
2 - Current fee schedule is up to 1,000 lbs.
3 - Current fee schedule is over 1,000 lbs.
4 - Proposed fee structure is based on weight, not vehicle type and weight as shown on current fee schedule. 5 - Minimum base fee applies (equivalence to per-ton fee). 6 - Cut tires shown on current fee schedule no longer accepted as of 8/15/25. 7 - Current fee schedule has no limit - proposed fee structure establishes maximum. 8 - Heavy equipment tires shown on current fee schedule no longer accepted. 9 - Proposed new fee to encourage compliance with State diversion mandates. 10 - Non-public fee type / limited use. Will not be published with the customer-facing fee schedule. 3 Alternatives
The City Counci l may choose not to approve the proposed fees . This would result in inadequate funding of the Solid Waste Disposal Enterprise Fund and require alternative revenue sources, such as the General Fund. Staff does not recommend this approach, as disposal fees a re intended to cover ongoing and future costs without subsidies from other sources.
Fiscal Considerations
Based on current tonnages, the p roposed fees are projected to generate approximately $1,000,000 in additional revenue in 2026, supporting the long-term viability of the Solid Waste Disposal Enterprise Fund. Staff will continue to monitor the financial model and will return to the City Council for future fee adjustments, as needed.
Disposal fees are not considered property -related charges, such as water, sewer, or refuse service rates, and therefore are not subject to Article XIII D, Section 6 of the California Constitution (“Prop 218”).
Impact on the City
The proposed fees will generate additional revenue to support operational and capital needs and while remaining comparable to neighboring disposal facilities to minimize the risk of losing volume and revenue.
Impact on the Community
Updated fees will continue to provide residents and businesses with a local, cost-effective option for safe and reliable waste disposal.
ATTACHMENT(S)
A. Resolution
Exhibit A – SMRL Fees