From:
To: City Council
Subject: Agenda Item 8 - Recology
Date: Monday, January 6, 2025 6:16:34 PM
Dear Mayor Zollman, Vice Mayor McLewis, and Councilmembers Carter, Hinton, and Maurer,
My name is Aura Aguilar and I am a lead organizer for North Bay Jobs with Justice, a coalition made up of over 30 labor, community, and environmental organizations. I am writing to urge you to delay the upcoming vote on the contract with Sonoma County Resource Recovery (SCRR) and reconsider continuing with Recology as Sebastopol’s solid waste hauler.
While the city has expressed interest in SCRR as a potentially more cost-effective solution for waste services, there are significant concerns regarding the actual savings and the broader consequences of shifting from Recology to SCRR, especially for the impact on our local economy and workforce.
First, while the initial comparison between the rates for garbage services between Recology and SCRR may suggest savings, this analysis only considered rates for garbage service and did not include the rates for composting and recycling. When these essential services are factored in, SCRR’s rates are, in fact, higher than those of Recology. Also, the proposed contract with SCRR will result in steep increases to the rates for nearly all commercial and multi-family customers. This not only undermines our community’s environmental goals but also increases the financial burden on businesses and residents.
Recology’s workforce is unionized, represented by a local chapter of the Teamsters. During the organizing campaign, North Bay Jobs with Justice provided a key community support network and saw the incredible effort that the workers put into organizing their coworkers, community, and winning a contract. SCRR, by contrast, is a non-union company. If Sebastopol transitions to SCRR, it will mean the loss of numerous family-sustaining, union jobs, which would have a negative impact on our local economy and the long-term health of our community.
While SCRR may offer comparable hourly wages, it does not provide the same benefits that Recology workers receive with their union contract, including comprehensive family health insurance, a pension plan, and opportunities for ongoing training, education, and career advancement. This is how 85 percent of Recology workers are able to live locally in Sonoma or Marin counties, contributing to our communities in ways that go beyond waste management.
In addition, in the variety of community events and projects that North Bay Jobs with Justice is a part of, Recology has been an integral community partner and collaborator.
We respectfully ask you to delay this vote and to keep Recology as Sebastopol’s solid waste hauler. The true costs of switching to SCRR have not been adequately considered, and we believe that the benefits of retaining Recology - especially its commitment to good union jobs and local employment - far outweigh the proposed contract with SCRR.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue. We trust you will make the decision that best serves the interests of Sebastopol and its residents.
Sincerely,
Aura Aguilar
(she/ her/ ella)
Organizer
North Bay Jobs with Justice