Riverside council approves three-year commercial refuse rate plan through 2028

The Riverside City Council on June 10 adopted a three-year commercial solid waste rate plan that staff said is needed to align commercial hauling revenues with rising industry costs and state organics rules.

City environmental services manager Christy Garcia told the council the proposal covers collection, processing and a franchise and city administration fee. "Commercial rates are made up of collection, processing, and a franchise fee and city administration fee," Garcia said in the presentation, adding that processing fees reflect county landfill and AguaMansa transfer-station costs.

Why it matters: City staff said external forces are squeezing haulers and municipal funds — including China’s recycling ban, regulations implementing Senate Bill 1383 requiring organics recycling and rising labor and equipment costs. The proposed plan creates a new food-waste rate for large generators and adjusts container-based maximum rates; staff said the City’s refuse fund began the year with about $6 million in reserves and is projected to use some reserves to offset a $3.3 million deficit this year.

Public input: Three written protests were verified before the hearing; staff reported no additional written protests during the meeting and said that total fell short of the majority threshold that would block the increase. At the podium, resident Joe Gazzetta questioned apparent price differences between residential and small commercial accounts, saying billing examples he reviewed showed large disparities: "This one is $37 including trash... This one, just for those two tubs, is $178," he said, urging staff to explain pricing structure. Adam, chair of the social and environmental justice committee of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside, urged consideration of equity and small-business impacts and asked whether an equity analysis or targeted outreach to small businesses had been done.

Staff response and program details: Garcia said commercial rates are set as maximums and that haulers may charge less than approved rates. She also noted long-term efforts such as the Riverside Bioenergy Facility feasibility work that could change tip-fee structures and that to date the city had issued more than 3,400 waivers for recycling and organics to about 4,500 commercial customers; waivers are valid for five years and require city inspections for compliance.

Council action: Following public comment and a council motion to adopt the staff recommendation, the council voted to adopt the rate plan effective July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. The city clerk reported three verified written protests prior to the hearing but no majority protest; the motion was announced as carrying unanimously on the roll call.

What’s next: With the plan adopted, staff will implement the new maximum rates and continue hauler and customer outreach on organics waivers and compliance under SB 1383. The council record shows Athens Services will assume all commercial accounts at the end of the city’s five-year transition period in 2028 under the current contract structure.