Napa County board keeps garbage rates steady, refers broader waste-contract review

The Napa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Aug. 19 to keep existing residential and commercial collection rates in place for Zone 1 customers served under a franchise with Napa County Recycling and Waste Services LLC and directed staff to return with a study session on the county's waste agreements and regulatory drivers.

The action preserves rates that were made effective Oct. 1, 2024, and authorizes the contractor to continue collection of solid waste, recyclables, green waste and food waste for unincorporated areas south of Yountville. County staff said recycling market conditions have improved since last year and the franchise currently has a modest surplus that will remain in a balancing account for use in the following year.

County staffer "mister Lederer" told the board the county is in a long-term franchise arrangement for Zone 1 that began in February 2005, was revised and extended in 2018 and now expires in 2032. "As we come into this year, those recycling markets have largely recovered," he said. "Those markets are very volatile. They go up and down, but this was a better year. So we're in a position where we do not need to raise rates this year. In fact, there's a little extra revenue which will stay in what you would call a balancing account and will be used next…