Higher garbage collection rates proposed for city residents

Garbage collection in the City of Sonoma is provided by the Sonoma Garbage Company, a private contractor which the city has used for many decades. The City of Sonoma is Sonoma Garbage Company’s only client. A public hearing about a proposed increase in rates is scheduled at the council’s meeting of May 1, 2024.

Proposed increased monthly rates are as follows: 20-gal: $17.12, 32-gal: $27.49, 64-gal: $57.92, 96-gal $88.08

In it’s report to the council, city staff explains that existing solid waste rates in the City (viewable online at www.sonomacity.org/garbagecollectors/) are, overall, the lowest such rates in Sonoma County. SGC’s current average solid waste utility rates in the City are more than 30% below the average of other Sonoma County cities and towns. After the proposed July 1, 2024 adjustment to SGC’s solid waste utility rates, rates in the City will remain among the lowest in the County. SGC’s new average solid waste utility rates in the City will be around 20% below the average of other Sonoma County cities and towns. It should be noted that these averages are not inclusive of rates in unincorporated Sonoma County, which are generally higher than city and town rates.

Starting July 1, 2025, SGC’s solid waste rates would continue to be subject to annual adjustment in a manner substantially similar to prior practice, which has yielded an average annual increase in rates of just over 5% in the last 10 to 15 years.

Updates to Sonoma Garbage Company Operations SGC and the City negotiated several important updates to SGC’s operations which were necessary for continued and sustainable provision of quality solid waste utility services in the future, including:

1. Vehicle Upgrades and Transition to Zero-Emission Vehicles – SGC’s vehicles in the City are old, have high maintenance needs, and are due for replacement. SGC will also be implementing an electric support vehicle early in the new Agreement term.

2. Zero Waste Coordinator and Public Education (Starting January 1, 2025) – SGC will provide a full-time Zero Waste Coordinator staffing to the City to address a variety of important recycling, composting, outreach, education, State compliance reporting, and other functions. SGC will also provide new and enhanced customer education on resource recovery and proper solid waste handling.

3. City Community Events Collection (Starting January 1, 2025) – SGC will provide the City with solid waste collection services and support for up to 30 City community events working in partnership with the City to continue to improve waste recovery and diversion and lessen the environmental impacts of events in support of the City’s special events policy.

4. Enhanced Customer Service – SGC will upgrade its website and phone system also employ additional customer services and management staff. The new Agreement also includes industry standard performance expectations for a variety of new terms and conditions in the new Agreement.

5. Living Wages – Commercial drivers are in high demand and retention of drivers requires that SGC pay living wages. SGC conducted wage surveys in the region and is increasing employee wages to a level that allows employees to live in work in the Sonoma area.

6. Other New Services – In addition to the above, SGC will also be providing new battery collection service for residents, improved leak and spill responses and reporting, and technical assistance and outreach visits to all commercial waste generators annually. The City will also retain the new right conduct regular reviews of SGC’s performance and compliance with the terms and conditions of the new Agreement.

The full staff report can be viewed HERE.