Orange County panel approves modest solid-waste tipping-fee increase, adds C&D debris category

Orange County’s Ways and Means Committee on Dec. 17 approved a modest increase in tipping fees at county-owned solid-waste facilities and added construction and demolition debris to the pricing schedule.

The committee confirmed a municipal solid-waste (MSW) tipping fee increase from $128.25 per ton to $130.65 per ton and raised the yard-waste fee to $50 per ton. Committee members moved and approved an amendment to add a construction-and-demolition (C&D) debris line to the fee schedule.

County staff explained the change as a pass-through tied to rising hauling bids. A staff presentation said the vendor’s hauling bid rose about $2.38 per ton; the tipping fee adjustment passing to customers is roughly $2.40 per ton. As staff put it during discussion, “The increase in the bids was $2.38. The increase that we’re passing on is 2¢ more. $2.40,” reflecting bid and internal overhead components.

Legislators asked how the tipping fee is set and how it relates to contract bids. Staff said hauling bids cover transport to disposal sites, while the county’s tipping fee includes the county’s markup to cover handling, labor and facility overhead at transfer stations. Staff also said MSW and C&D hauling are handled under the same vendor contract, which was recently rebid; the new contract’s hauling price informed the tipping-fee recommendation.

One legislator sought clarification on contract length and extensions; staff said the typical contract term is one year with two one-year extension options. Committee members asked about facility permit capacity and cumulative tonnage; staff estimated the county previously handled about 120,000 tons annually and is currently closer to 90,000 tons a year.

During discussion, a legislator pointed to upfront county costs for receiving and processing loads — from gate staff through equipment time and material handling — as part of the tipping-fee calculation. Another noted the county retains the ability to set tipping fees internally once hauling costs and overhead are known.

After a roll call, the amended schedule and fee increases carried. The committee recorded at least one abstention during earlier procedural voting but approved the final amended fee ordinance.

The committee did not change vendor rebate practices for certain electronics; staff said monitors and televisions remain no-charge items because the vendor can receive a state rebate only if the county does not charge upfront.

Next steps: the new fee schedule is set to take effect as part of the county’s internal billing process concurrent with the vendor contract that begins in January 2025. The committee did not set a separate public-comment period for the change and no further public hearings were announced.