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Simi Valley council introduces ordinance to curb unauthorized roll-off hauling, tighten self-hauler reporting
Summary
The City Council voted unanimously to introduce Ordinance No. 13-62, updating municipal code language to comply with state organic-waste rules and to create an enforcement process for unauthorized roll-off dumpsters and nonauthorized haulers.
Simi Valley City Council unanimously introduced Ordinance No. 13-62 on first reading, a code change that tightens reporting requirements for self-haulers and creates an enforcement procedure for unauthorized roll-off containers operating in the city.
The ordinance, described by Public Works Director Ron Fujiwaki during the public hearing, is intended to bring the city into compliance with state organic-waste diversion requirements in SB 1383. “Ordinance 13 62 updates these requirements and brings the City into State compliance regarding self hauler approval,” Fujiwaki said during his presentation.
Why it matters: California requires jurisdictions to increase diversion of organic material and other recyclables. Fujiwaki and environmental compliance staff told the council that CalRecycle’s recent review identified two needed updates: a recordkeeping process for self-haulers and a defined enforcement path for unauthorized haulers. Staff and Waste Management representatives said unauthorized roll-off bins placed in the public right-of-way can reduce the city’s diversion percentage if material is not taken to the Simi Valley landfill and properly credited.
Key provisions and enforcement steps described to the council include allowing city staff to post a visible notice of violation on an identified unauthorized roll-off and require removal within 24 hours. If the container remains, the city may contact the franchise hauler to impound the container; the ordinance references a $900 retrieval fee payable to Waste Management under the franchise agreement. Staff said the city may extend deadlines for removal if extenuating circumstances make compliance impractical.
During the hearing, resident James Greenfield argued the measure amounted to overreach and urged the council to reject it, saying the city should not cede enforcement authority to a private franchise hauler. Waste Management’s representative responded that most jurisdictions with exclusive franchises have similar provisions, that the company has partnered with the city since the 1990s, and that the ordinance is intended to be implemented initially as an education-first program rather than an immediate enforcement sweep: “This is an educational thing. We’re not going out and trying to, you know, penalize everyone off the bat,” the representative said.
Council members asked for detail on how the city would obtain diversion credit if a self-hauler reports disposal at an out-of-city facility and how often illegal roll-offs appear; staff estimated roughly 10 instances a week in recent months. Council members also raised outreach and education as a priority before enforcement begins; Fujiwaki said staff will coordinate outreach with Waste Management and on the city website.
Action: Council Member (Mayor Pro Tem) Mike Judge moved to introduce the ordinance on first reading; the motion passed unanimously.
The ordinance will return for a subsequent reading and possible adoption at a later meeting, at which point the city’s formal enforcement procedures and timelines will take effect.
