Dive Brief:
- Napa, CA’s next waste and recycling contract will increase costs by as much as 10 to 30% in an effort to expand the citywide recycling rate.
- City officials warned the City Council that the collection fees would likely increase in 2017, and will surpass $250 million in the next 12 to 14 years.
- The increase in cost is due to impending replacement of the city’s waste fleet, and an effort to raise the diversion rate to the statewide target of 75% by 2020.
Dive Insight:
The next contract will extend the city’s current contract with Napa Recycling & Waste Services until the end of 2016. The city plans to negotiate a new waste deal with the company in the spring of 2015, with a final vote expected to occur in July.
As per the terms in the new contract, each waste truck purchased must comply with tighter state emissions rules -- adding to the cost of every new vehicle, now priced around $450,000 for each new truck. The hauler will also need to add more trucks to its fleet to keep up with the expanded hauling requirements. The hauler will need to separate food waste for composting and salvage materials from construction and demolition debris.
