In light of statewide changes to waste collection programs, the Dixon City Council unanimously approved an amended agreement with Recology to expand residential and commercial organic waste collection services during of its meeting on Tuesday.

According to Director of Public Works Louren Kotow, the city has had an exclusive agreement with Recology for solid waste, recyclables, and organic waste since 1996. The proposed changes were proposed in response to Senate Bill 1383, enacted in 2016 by the then government. . Jerry Brown seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of short-lived climate pollutants by reducing organic waste disposal by 75% by 2025.

“Passing SB 1383 has imposed new regulatory requirements on the city that require changes to the collection agreement,” she said. “The city and Recology negotiated an amendment to the franchise agreement to meet all of the state’s latest mandates while maintaining some of the lowest collection rates in the Greater Bay Area.”

Kotow then introduced Carrie Baxter of R3 Consulting Group to elaborate on the changes. First, she explained what organic waste entails, which includes not only yard clippings, food scraps and inedible food bits, but also food-soiled paper products such as coffee filters or pizza boxes.

“The amendment before you tonight includes collecting and recycling all of these materials,” she said.

Baxter said recyclable organics make up two-thirds of the total waste stream and half of what is dumped in landfills. SB 1383 requires local governments to conduct awareness and education activities with all city waste generators, establish an edible food recovery program, inspect and enforce compliance, and conduct capacity planning for recovery edible food and processing organic waste for green carts.

During negotiations with Recology, Baxter said many of these responsibilities were taken into consideration. As part of the agreement, Recology will provide organic waste collection services to all residences and businesses, and Dixon is working with Solano County to establish an edible food salvage program that collects food that would otherwise be discarded. landfill and redistributes them to those who need them. .

In accordance with the requirements of SB 1383, Dixon must enforce, track and report organic waste diversion goals and expand its organic waste collection services to all residents and businesses or face fines for non-compliance of up to up to $10,000 per day from the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery. .

A proposed amendment to the Franchise Agreement seeks to require Recology to provide a biological collection service to all customers and to perform route reviews, contamination monitoring, notification, education and awareness services, and report, as required by law.

The agreement would be valid for a period of 10 years until July 4, 2032 and would require the adoption of a tariff adjustment. The program would also include a free voucher for residential customers to dispose of trash in a landfill.

The bins could also be replaced on demand once every 10 years at no cost to the customer, Baxter said.

With these changes, Baxter said Recology is proposing an 18% increase in the waste collection rate, effective Oct. 1.

“It gives (customers) some time to set up containers and services,” she said.

Baxter said the proposed rate increases were in line with those of neighboring cities.

Mayor Steve Bird asked if the disposal rate at the Dixon Reecology Center was different than the Transfer Center. Baxter said pricing depends on facilities and hardware.

“If it’s just a load of green waste that’s being absorbed, it can probably be much lower than processing organics,” she said.

Bird also asked why smaller toters for seniors weren’t offered. Baxter said the amendment offers containers of different sizes and a seniors’ discount is also available.

Councilman Kevin Johnson asked if there were any ways to help those who couldn’t get to a landfill due to mobility issues. Baxter said there are other communities where bulky waste collections for large items like sofas, mattresses and refrigerators are included in the rate, but not in Dixon.

“Bulky waste collection is offered, but it is not included in the price so that those who really need it pay for it,” she said. “Your rate is much lower than those with the large collection.”

Councilor Jim Ernest asked if customers would have to wait 10 years to replace broken containers. Baxter said the containers had a 10-year shelf life anyway. If the containers break before then, Recology chief executive Scott Pardini said customers should call the company to have them replaced sooner.

In a public comment, David Dingman said Vacaville offered more options for waste disposal and offered free curbside pickup.

“Reecology serves us both,” he said. “They shouldn’t treat us differently.”

Johnson asked how buckets for food scraps to be thrown away in green bins had been delivered to other cities and what Dixon’s plans were. Pardini said Vacaville started delivering the buckets in January, but found that not all owners wanted them.

“Those who feel the need to use them can come and visit our recycling center…on First Street,” he said. “If the customer doesn’t have a way to get there…we can drop them off at their place.”

Ernest said it was a confusing process for residents that was governed by state law, but he was lucky to have Recology guiding the city through it.

“They’re good at public information, and they’re good at implementing things and they often get things done before some of the other companies do,” he said.

The board voted 4-0 to approve the amended deal. Councilman Don Hendershot was absent.