Trash Talking - Elk Grove City Council discusses upcoming garbage pickup rate hikes

During their Wednesday, April 14 meeting, the five-member Elk Grove City Council talked trash. More specifically, they discussed hiking garbage pickup rates in response to a new statewide law. 

The new garbage pick-up rates paid directly to Republic Services, the city's contact garbage collector, are coming as a result of legislation signed into law in 2016 by former Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown. That legislation, Senate Bill 1383, mandates the collection of organic food waste and distribution of edible foods that would have otherwise been throw into the garbage.

Barring proposed legislation that could delay implementation, the new law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2022. To implement the service, Republic Services and Elk Grove have negotiated rates that could increase ratepayers' bills by about 23-percent.

For Republic Service to provide the enhanced weekly pickup of the organic waste, new garbage cans will be distributed. Eventually, trash receptacle statewide will be color-coded to identify the various types of garbage. 

During the meeting, the city council did not take action but provided more direction to city staff regarding implementation. One of the biggest concerns expressed by the city councilmembers was the education on how garbage will need to be segregated upon implementation and how the city should roll out the increased rates (see video below).

A public hearing on the rate hikes will be held at one of the two regular city council meetings in June.    

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