Cudahy opens public hearing on solid‑waste fee increases tied to state organics law; residents lodge protests

Cudahy City Council opened a public hearing Aug. 19 on proposed solid‑waste fee adjustments and a third amendment to its franchise agreement with Consolidated Disposal Service LLC (doing business as Republic Services) to comply with California Senate Bill 1383. The council voted to receive and file the staff presentation and public testimony.

SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to add organics collection (food, green waste, paper and wood) and related enforcement. City staff told the council the ordinance is an unfunded state mandate; CalRecycle could assess a $10,000‑per‑day fine for noncompliance, and the city has been out of compliance since July 1, 2024. Staff said the third amendment would extend the franchise term to Jan. 1, 2034, spreading implementation costs and allowing the city and hauler to provide education, inspections and waivers required by state law.

Why this matters: The change would add a third rollout container to residential accounts, expand recycling and organics service for businesses, and adjust customer rates to cover implementation costs. Staff presented a multi‑year residential rate path starting about $29.93 in year one and rising to $32.92; the amendment was presented as a way to minimize near‑term cost spikes by extending the contract.

Residents and business owners urged the council to weigh the financial burden and criticized service quality and outreach. Diego Garcia, a local business owner, asked whether the third container “is that the citizens request that or it's just that you guys just offering it in exchange for the rate increase?” Several residents said replacement carts arrived with differing sizes or colors and described missed pickups. Susie de Santiago, who identified herself as a homeowner, told the council, “If we're gonna have these rate increases, then Republic also needs to do an improvement with the service, because we shouldn't have to be doing that.”

Republic Services representatives and city staff answered questions on service and eligibility. Pilar Mejia, Republic Services, said residents would receive the third container “starting tomorrow, assuming the public hearing goes without full protest.” The company and staff said no existing trash containers would be downsized: “We are not downsizing any bin. Whatever you have now is what you will continue to be serviced,” a company representative told the council. Staff also confirmed that a senior discount is available for customers 65 and older and that the discount in the contract is a 50 percent rate reduction for qualifying seniors; residents must submit identification to request the credit.

The city reported it mailed a public‑hearing notice in English and Spanish and published notice in a newspaper of general circulation per state law. Staff said the city received 39 letters of opposition and explained the statute requires a property‑owner protest threshold of 51 percent of affected parcels (1,749 parcels in Cudahy, requiring 892 protests to stop the rate adjustment). Council members and staff discussed outreach and additional customer support, including an inbox for Cudahy residents to contact Republic Services directly for help with bin replacements and account questions.

Action: The council opened the hearing, accepted public testimony and unanimously voted to receive and file the staff presentation and public protests. The council did not adopt new fees at the meeting; staff said bills for SB 1383 implementation will be collected by the hauler and that there is no immediate impact to the city general fund.

The council and staff said they will continue public education and customer outreach while Republic Services begins rolling out organics containers and business outreach.