Del Norte Solid Waste Authority directs staff to negotiate Hambro CPI change order, approves Recology rate adjustments

The Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority on March 18 directed staff to begin negotiations on a CPI-based change order with Hambro WSG and approved a separate request from Recology Del Norte for service-fee adjustments tied to the consumer price index and other fee components.

The authority’s action on Hambro’s request instructs staff to negotiate a change order to increase rates in line with CPI changes and to include “consideration for extending the landfill capacity available to Del Norte County,” the director said during the meeting. The board voted unanimously to authorize staff to begin negotiations.

The vote followed the director’s report on the authority’s ongoing five-year permit review and capacity planning. Director Ted Ward told commissioners that the authority is preparing a required five-year review for CalRecycle and needs to demonstrate at least 15 years of disposal capacity as part of that process. “If our relationship for whatever reason with Hambro’s sources, we could potentially hire a different contractor and use that same capacity that has been reserved for Del Norte County,” Ward said. Ward also described the authority’s current disposal arrangement: transfer-station material goes to Dry Creek Landfill (operated by Rogue Valley Disposal), which was recently purchased by Waste Connections, and the capacity arrangement is held by Hambro WSG with the authority as a third‑party beneficiary.

On a separate but related item, the authority approved a Feb. 19 letter from Recology Del Norte requesting service-fee adjustments tied to changes in the consumer price index, changes to disposal and brush tipping fees, and a 1.3% increase to collection and transportation components to support California Air Resources Board compliance. The board voted unanimously to accept the letter and directed staff to calculate the specific rate changes and return with detailed figures.

Director Ward said staff will use a single CPI month for consistency between vendors and that the authority typically uses March CPI but can use February if both parties agree. “If there was a significant difference between the March and April index, then it would make that same difference,” Ward said, explaining why the month selected affects the final numbers.

The rate negotiations and the Recology calculation are interdependent: changes to disposal rates, brush tipping fees and Hambro’s change order would factor into the final franchise rates the authority sets.

Votes at a glance - Consent agenda (approve minutes of Feb. 18, 2025; Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority Resolution 2025-02 authorizing acquisition of 2520 Old Mill Road; approve FY24-25 budget transfer of $76,000): approved, 4-0 (Commissioner Tompkins: yes; Commissioner Short: yes; Vice Chair Greenough: yes; Commissioner Tinkler: yes). - Direction to staff to negotiate a CPI-based change order with Hambro WSG and include consideration of extending secured landfill capacity: approved, 4-0 (Tompkins: yes; Short: yes; Greenough: yes; Tinkler: yes). - Receipt of letter dated Feb. 19, 2025 from Recology Del Norte requesting CPI-based service-fee adjustments and a 1.3% increase to collection/transportation components: approved to proceed with calculations, 4-0 (Tompkins: yes; Short: yes; Greenough: yes; Tinkler: yes). - Wage step placement for a recently rehired refuse site attendant to step C in recognition of 7+ years prior experience: approved, 4-0 (Tompkins: yes; Short: yes; Greenough: yes; Tinkler: yes). - Authority support/adoption of letters for state legislation (bills referenced in staff report): approved, 4-0 (Tompkins: yes; Short: yes; Greenough: yes; Tinkler: yes).

Background and context The director’s report reviewed several items affecting the authority’s long-term compliance and costs. Ward said the authority is completing the five-year review required by CalRecycle for recycling, composting, waste reduction, hazardous-waste, and solid-waste programs and expects representatives from EBA Engineering on a site visit. He said the review is overdue and that CalRecycle is awaiting the authority’s letter. The director emphasized that showing 15 years of disposal capacity is a key part of the state requirement and recommended including capacity-extension language in upcoming Hambro negotiations.

Ward also provided a near-term financial snapshot: “At the January, we had a little over $3,068,000 in the bank. We still have $198,000 set aside for last month’s rent,” he said. He reported the authority was $98,000 ahead of budget at February—$80,000 ahead on authority service fees and $18,000 ahead on franchise fees—and that February typically is a slow month for volume.

Why it matters Securing 15 years of disposal capacity and resolving vendor rate adjustments are necessary steps for the authority’s compliance with CalRecycle requirements and to stabilize operating costs that flow through to franchise and service fees. The board’s decision to direct staff to negotiate an extension of landfill capacity while processing CPI-based rate requests aims to address both long-term capacity security and short-term cost adjustments.

What’s next Staff will begin negotiations with Hambro WSG on the CPI-based change order and the possible extension of secured landfill capacity; staff will also calculate the precise rate adjustments requested by Recology Del Norte and return to the authority with detailed numbers for formal rate-setting. The authority scheduled its next regular meeting for April 15 at 4 p.m. in Crescent City.

Quoted speakers “No final actions were taken in closed session,” said Robert Black, authority counsel, after the closed session reconvened. Director Ted Ward provided financial details and the planning rationale for negotiating landfill capacity and rate changes.

Ending The authority’s unanimous votes set staff to work on the overlapping issues of vendor rate changes and long-term disposal capacity; commissioners said they expect to review concrete numbers and any proposed contract changes at upcoming meetings.