San Ramon Considers New Waste Collection Fee Structure

SAN RAMON, CA — The San Ramon City Council will vote whether to change the way it charges Alameda County Industries for operating in the city.

ACI has held exclusive rights to collect and process solid waste, recyclables, and organic materials across San Ramon since 2018, according to a city staff report. The city charges a franchise fee to offset the costs of managing the contract, and it is currently calculated as a percentage of ACI’s gross revenue.

However, that fee has not always properly covered costs, according to the report. The proposed ordinance would set the franchise fee annually by resolution, allowing the city to adjust it depending on costs. The city hired a consulting firm to help it set fees.

The ordinance would also present smaller changes to waste collection. If passed, anyone who wants to opt out of subscribing to ACI’s services would need to obtain a waiver. The ordinance also delineated which types of waste collection can be done by people who aren’t official haulers, such as landscapers removing garden waste or furniture donors.

If passed, the ordinance will be up for final adoption at its Sept. 23 meeting, and will take effect 30 days later.

Scroll to page 147 of the agenda packet for more information, and see here for the final Tuesday agenda.