Huge rate increases coming to garbage service customers in Stanislaus County. Here’s why
Residents of four unincorporated areas of Stanislaus County are facing big increases in garbage collection rates.
County officials say the rate increases, adding anywhere from $13 to $30 to monthly residential bills, are tied to implementing a state recycling bill signed by then-Gov. Jerry Brown in 2016.
The increases will affect Bertolotti Disposal customers in Salida, Keyes, Crows Landing, Grayson and Westley.
Also affected are Gilton Solid Waste customers in Knights Ferry and Valley Home, and areas served by Turlock Scavenger in Denair, Empire, Hickman, La Grange and unincorporated pockets of Turlock.
The county, which regulates garbage haulers and sets the maximum rates they can charge, previously has made minor adjustments to garbage service rates based on changes in consumer price indices. But Senate Bill 1383 brings significant changes and additional requirements for recycling organic wastes.
The bill is designed to fight climate change by reducing wastes going into landfills that break down and create methane emissions. County officials said the state has provided no funding to offset the costs of implementing SB 1383 and that puts the costs on the shoulders of ratepayers.
County environmental resources staff told supervisors this week the new state requirements will apply to a large portion of county unincorporated territory and expand the areas where garbage service is mandatory.
The most immediate changes will take effect in four areas served by garbage collection companies:
▪ Bertolotti Disposal customers in Salida, Keyes, Crows Landing and Grayson will receive three 96-gallon carts, including a green one for organic waste, blue for plastics and beverage containers and black for regular household waste. The county board approved a monthly rate of $43.90, an increase of $15.99, effective Jan. 1. The new commercial rate is $135.53 a month, a $34.06 increase.
▪ Gilton Solid Waste customers in Knights Ferry and Valley Home will receive a green cart for organic waste and a black cart for recyclables mixed with regular household garbage. Gilton can use two carts because it has a processing facility for separating out recyclables. The new rate is $35.92 a month, an increase of $12.98, effective Jan. 1. Commercial customers will pay $124.37 a month, a $29.34 increase.
▪ Turlock Scavenger will use a three-cart system for residential service in Denair, Empire, Hickman and La Grange. According to the county, inefficiencies caused by SB 1383 requirements result in a large increase to $51.91 a month, or $25.47 higher than the current rate, effective March 1. Commercial customers will pay $109.59 a month, a $25.47 increase.
▪ A three-cart Turlock Scavenger service in unincorporated parts of Turlock will cost $53.64 a month, an increase of $29.25, effective March 1. The big hike also is due to inefficiencies caused by SB 1383 requirements, the county said. The commercial rate will be $115.66, a $29.25 increase.
The county environmental resources agency has been distributing flyers on the garbage service changes and customers will receive information from haulers.
County supervisors recognize the higher garbage service rates will be difficult for some families and people on fixed incomes. They said the higher costs are related to the new state regulations.
Residents can get together with neighbors on arrangements to share containers and lower their monthly costs.
“We are going to do what we can to work with people,” Supervisor Terry Withrow said. “We all want to do our part to recycle. It becomes very real when the rates have to go up.”
Supervisor Mani Grewal said he also wants county environmental resources to keep looking for ways to reduce the rates. “If there is an opportunity to lower these rates, I want to make sure we are on top of it,” he said at Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting.
Tami Stoller of Salida said in correspondence to the county that she’s concerned about the hefty increase. Stoller wrote that she and her husband already have taken steps to reduce yard waste and won’t likely need a large recycling container.
“We just converted our yard to artificial turf and rock using the county’s turf conversion program,” Stoller wrote. “We did this to save water and cut down on the green waste going to the landfill.”
This story was originally published December 16, 2021 at 8:51 AM.
