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Madera County adopts new collection services, self‑haul options and recycling fees effective July 1
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved two resolutions updating county solid‑waste collection services and self‑haul disposal options to meet state organics‑diversion rules; the changes include organics drop‑off, a carpet‑recycling pilot and fees that largely hold steady because of a fuel‑index reduction.
Madera County supervisors voted unanimously on June 17 to adopt two resolutions updating solid‑waste collection services for franchise haulers and new disposal options at county facilities, changes county staff said are intended to help the county comply with California’s organics‑diversion law SB 1383. The new services and associated rates take effect July 1, 2025.
The measures, presented by Public Works Director Dominic Taberski, add organics collection and self‑haul options and set new fees for the Fairmead Landfill and the North Fork Transfer Station. “If approved by your board this morning, these changes would be effective 07/01/2025,” Taberski told supervisors during the presentation.
County staff and franchise haulers framed the changes as a combination of regulatory compliance and local operational improvements. SB 1383 requires jurisdictions to reduce landfill disposal of organic waste and expand edible‑food recovery; Taberski described the county’s approach as a mix of hauler subscription, municipal drop‑off and on‑site management. “Residents have the opportunity to contract services,” he said, noting Madco serves the mountain regions and Red Rock serves the valley floor.
Key decisions and operational details approved by the board: - Organics collection: Madco and Red Rock will add organics services in areas where participation is requested; Madco will provide carts at North Fork for self‑haul drop‑offs. The county also plans outreach and a possible future compost voucher program. - Self‑haul organics drop‑off: Residents may self‑haul food waste to Fairmead or North Fork; staff proposed no charge for a cart‑equivalent of clean food waste per visit for residents, to encourage diversion and avoid plastic contamination. - Carpet recycling pilot: Residents may drop off up to two rolls of carpet per visit at Fairmead at no charge; businesses may use the program for carpet recycling at a reduced rate ($40/ton proposed). - Equipment and special service fees: Proposals include bear‑proof cart rentals in mountain areas ($10/month), rental rates for 8‑yard bins, and an excess‑waste charge to cover collections when containers are grossly overloaded (the consultants described the charge as an estimate roughly equivalent to one cubic yard of material). - Rate effects: HDR consultant John Carlton told the board landfill rates will remain unchanged and, because of a reduced fuel‑index adjustment, many customer rates will decrease slightly.
The board received progress reports on facility improvements that accompany the service changes. Jared Carter and Tetra Tech engineers reviewed recent projects: a landfill gas flare put into operation in late 2024, replacement of about 15,000 square feet of tipping floor at Fairmead, repairs at North Fork and a South Road improvement project to provide a force main for leachate management.
Franchise haulers described local outreach and operational challenges. Ashley Smith of Madco said the hauler has been running workshops and delivering receptacles to customers who sign up, but noted staffing and long parts/insurance costs in mountain service areas that make operations expensive. “Employing people up in the mountains is always quite difficult,” she said. Richard Cagle of Red Rock praised recent facility upgrades and highlighted lithium‑ion batteries as an ongoing fire hazard in curbside recycling and waste streams.
Public‑works staff also said the county has convened an illegal‑dumping task force bringing together the sheriff’s office, code enforcement, U.S. Forest Service and haulers, and that the county will continue to explore low‑cost disposal options for low‑income residents. Jared Carter announced a household hazardous‑waste drop‑off in Oakhurst on July 12 from 8 a.m. to noon.
The board approved both resolutions on a 5‑0 roll call. Taberski’s office will return to implement the outreach plan and to monitor participation and contamination rates as the county expands organics programs.
Questions about implementation that staff flagged for follow‑up include finalizing the excess‑waste charge amount, designing the compost‑voucher program and deciding whether to extend the carpet recycling pilot to North Fork if site constraints permit.
