Carpinteria authorizes two‑year Clean Harbors agreement for hazardous waste collection and response

The Carpinteria City Council voted June 22 to authorize the city manager to execute a two‑year agreement with Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc. to formalize household hazardous waste collection, the city’s annual hazardous‑waste day, and hazardous‑material emergency response services.

Staff said the proposal formalizes services the city has used since 2019 and offers price predictability and a designated generator‑of‑record to reduce the city’s regulatory burden. The agreement as presented covers four quarterly ABOT (antifreeze, batteries, oil, paint) pickups at about $5,000 per pickup ($20,000/year), one annual household goods and hazardous‑waste day event (approximately $40,000), and emergency response availability (roughly $10,000/year). Staff recommended authorizing the city manager to execute the agreement in an amount not to exceed $140,000 over a two‑year term.

During council questions, staff explained the emergency‑response line item is a precautionary budget set aside and would not be spent unless services are required. Staff also said participation in the ABOT program has been steady (354 participants last year, 335 this year) and that some decline may reflect better year‑round drop‑off awareness.

The council approved the motion by roll call with unanimous votes.

Next steps: staff will execute the agreement and return to council with any significant contract changes; the first‑year funding is included in the current two‑year budget and the second year will be budgeted in the next biennial cycle.