2026 Proposed Solid Waste Rates

The City of Shasta Lake provides solid waste collection services to its residents and businesses under the authority of Section 13.16 of the Shasta Lake Municipal Code, through a franchise agreement with USA Waste of California, Inc. (Waste Management – WM). Under this agreement, WM is responsible for the collection, transfer, processing, and disposal of all solid waste, recyclables, and organic waste (e.g., yard trimmings and food waste) generated within the City.

Commercial and multi-family customers are billed directly by WM based on the number and size of their containers and the frequency of weekly service. Single-family residential customers are charged a monthly base rate that includes weekly collection of trash (gray cart), recyclables (blue cart), and organics (green cart), using their existing containers.  Your existing green yard clippings cart will be utilized for organics (see chart) and picked up weekly.  

The City’s franchise agreement establishes the initial rate structure and includes an inflation-based formula for annual adjustments, which accounts for factors such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and disposal cost increases. If the proposed rate schedule is adopted, future annual adjustments may continue for a period of up to five (5) years or until another duly noticed Public Hearing is conducted.

REASON FOR RATE INCREASE

Solid waste rates are established by the City to recover the costs of providing essential collection, recycling, and disposal services that protect public health, safety, and welfare, while ensuring compliance with State mandates. These services are provided through the City’s franchise agreement with USA Waste of California, Inc. (Waste Management – WM), and all related costs are paid through this franchise arrangement.

One of the primary cost drivers behind the proposed rate increase is Senate Bill (SB) 1383—enacted in 2016 by California’s supermajority Legislature—which requires all jurisdictions to reduce the amount of organic materials disposed of in landfills by 75% by 2025. Failure to comply may result in State-imposed penalties of up to $10,000 per day.

It’s important to note that the City of Shasta Lake strongly opposed SB 1383 from the outset, warning Sacramento lawmakers that the law would be costly, difficult to implement, and ill-suited for rural communities. Despite these objections, the State moved forward, and jurisdictions like ours have been required to absorb the substantial financial and operational burdens necessary to comply with the organic waste diversion mandates.

Organic materials, such as food scraps and yard waste, account for approximately half of what Californians dispose of in landfills. To meet these mandates, WM will roll out a comprehensive residential organics program beginning January 1, 2026 (or upon completion of the new landfill facility). The program will include curbside organic waste collection, public education, contamination monitoring, and State-required reporting.

Starting in 2026, residential customers will be able to place materials such as food scraps, food-soiled paper, and coffee grounds in their green waste carts. These services are designed to divert methane-producing materials from the landfill, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and align with the State’s climate-action goals. The new services add to existing collection programs and are reflected in the proposed rate structure.

More information on the statewide organics recycling mandate is available at https://calrecycle.ca.gov/Climate/SLCP/.

PROPOSED RATES AND ADJUSTMENTS

The current and proposed monthly rates for residential and commercial customers are detailed in Exhibit A. Beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and annually thereafter, rates will be adjusted to reflect 100% of the annual percentage change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – Urban Consumers: Garbage and Trash Collection Index, as published by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. If the CPI change is negative, no adjustment will be applied for that year.

In accordance with Proposition 218 (Cal. Const. art. XIII D, §6) and Government Code §53755, property-related rate adjustments require:

1. Mailing notice to all affected parcels/customers at least 45 days prior to the December 16, 2025 public hearing;
2. An opportunity for customers to submit written protests; and
3. Council action following the hearing.

Proposition 218 Notice Schedule:

• Mailing Period: October 27–30, 2025 (providing minimum 45 days’ notice ahead of the December 16, 2025 public hearing).
• Protest Tabulation: The City Clerk (or designee) will serve as tabulator. Only written protests received before the close of the hearing will be counted. If a majority of affected property owners or customers file protests, the proposed rate adjustment cannot be imposed.
• On October 21, 2025 the City Council authorized the issuance of the Proposition 218 notices and sets the public hearing date. Final rate adoption, if approved, will occur following protest tabulation at the December 16, 2025 City Council meeting.