City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: November 18, 2025
Agenda Item: 4.J
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Water Resources Subject: Approval of the Fifth Modification to Agreement #11052 with Clean Earth Environmental Solutions for Hazardous Waste Disposal
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15301 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a fifth modification to Agreement #11052 (CCS) in an amount of $350,000 with Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, Inc. (formerly Stericycle Environmental Solutions), for hazardous waste services for the Public Works Department. The term of the contract will remain unchanged, resulting in an amended agreement with a new total amount not to exceed $1,700,000, with future year funding contingent on Council budget approval.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica’s Public Works Department maintains and operates a range of water and wastewater infrastructure to serve the City, including three water treatment plants, an advanced water recycling/potable reuse facility, wastewater pump stations, sewer diversion treatment units, wet wells, stormwater diversion and treatment facilities, and oil-water treatment interceptors. These facilities require routine hazardous waste collection and disposal services to maintain reliable, continuous operations. Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, Inc. (formerly known as Stericycle Environmental Solutions) is the current vendor contracted to transport, pump, clean, and dispose of the hazardous waste collected at these facilities. Due to rising service costs and an unanticipated increase in service frequency to support the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project, staff recommends increasing Agreement #11052 (CCS) by $350,000. This fifth 2 of 4
modification would result in a new total amount not to exceed $1,700,000 to support water and wastewater operations, with no change to the original five-year contract term.
Discussion
The City’s Water Resources Division requires routine collection and disposal of hazardous waste from various water and wastewater facilities to maintain continuous and reliable operations that serve the community. The Water Resources Division entered into an agreement with Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, Inc. for hazardous waste disposal in October 2020. Due to increasing service costs and a higher-thananticipated service frequency — primarily stemming from the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project, which required the removal of chemical storage containers and process chemicals no longer used in the upgraded facility — a contract modification is necessary to increase the total compensation amount for the remainder of the contract term.
In April 2020, the City’s Water Resources Division issued Request for Proposals #257 to solicit hazardous waste disposal services. Staff reviewed the five bids received and recommended awarding a five-year agreement to Clean Earth Environmental, Inc. based on price and ability to provide the required service. The contract was initially executed in the amount of $1,050,000 and began in October 2020.
In August 2025, an additional $300,000 was approved to continue services through the term of the contract, primarily due to rising service costs for scheduled hazardous waste disposal. However, since that contract increase, an additional $350,000 is now needed through the term of the contract to cover unforeseen hazardous waste disposal services required to support the completion of the Arcadia Water Treatment Plant Expansion Project in 2025. These services include the disposal of temporary chemical totes and drums used to support operations during construction, when the permanent chemical storage tanks were being upgraded. The term would remain the same, and the agreement would end on February 28, 2026.
Environmental Review
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The disposal of hazardous waste is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15301 provides an exemption (Class 1 – Existing Facilities) for the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the lead agency's determination. Therefore, the award agreement is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the CEQA Guidelines.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
06/23/2020 Original Bid and Award of CT #11052 (CCS) with Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, Inc. (formerly known as
Stericycle Environmental Solutions) for hazardous waste disposal.
08/12/2025 Modification to CT #11052 (CCS) to increase contract amount by $300,000 for a total not to exceed $1,350,000.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to approve available funding from the Water and Wastewater Funds to increase agreement #11052 (CCS) with Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, Inc. for hazardous waste disposal.
Contract Modification Request
Agreement
#
Current
Authorized
Amount
FY 2025-26
Request
Amount
Depart Account #
Total Revised
Contract
Amount
11052
(CCS) $950,000 $250,000 51500001.529440 $1,200,000
$250,000 $100,000 50500002.550010 $350,000
$150,000 $0 50500003.550010 $150,000
Total: $1,350,000 $350,000 $1,700,000
Future year funding is contingent on Council budget approval. 4 of 4
Prepared By: Thomas Poon, Engineering Support Services Administrator Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. June 23, 2020 Staff Report (Web Link)
B. August 12, 2025 Staff Report (Web Link)
C. CT 11052 (CCS) - Clean Earth Enviironmental (Original) D. CT 11052 (CCS) - Clean Earth Environmental (Mod 1)
E. CT 11052 (CCS) - Clean Earth Environmental (Mod 2)
F. CT 11052 (CCS) - Clean Earth Environmental (Mod 3)
G. CT 11052 (CCS) - Clean Earth Environmental (Mod 4)
H. FY 24-25 Oaks Initiative - Clean Earth Environmental I. FY 24-25 Levine Act - Clean Earth Environmental
J. November 9, 1999 Staff Report (Web Link)