On June 13, the Grover Beach City Council adopted a resolution approving requested rate increases for solid waste collection and disposal services from the City’s waste hauler, South County Sanitary Service (SCSS). The initial rate increase for customers will go into effect on June 15.

“SCSS has been providing solid waste and recycling collection and disposal services for Grover Beach since 2008. There have been numerous changes in the world of waste management since the inception of our partnership” said Grover Beach Mayor Jeff Lee. “The City, along with our neighboring South County agencies, commissioned an independent review of the proposed increase to ensure these rate adjustments accurately reflect the services that will be provided and these costs are necessary to implement state and local mandates in the most economical manner possible.”

The approved rate increase will apply to monthly bill rates for all residential and business customers. Nearly 90% of the cost increases are due to truck depreciation and required replacements, as well as increased costs for insurance, gas and oil and the implementation of Senate Bill (SB) 1383, the statewide organic waste recycling mandate. Additional costs include increased labor, ongoing maintenance, waste disposal and other pass-through costs, such as landfill tipping fees set forth by the County and green waste processing costs.

For the next two years, rates will also be increased on January 1 based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Bureau of Labor Statistics, pass-through costs and overall franchise fees.

The implementation of SB 1383 is a top driver of the increased cost of services, accounting for 35% of the total monthly increase. This statewide effort to reduce emissions of short-lived climate pollutants requires all California cities, including Grover Beach, to reduce organic material waste in landfills and rescue surplus food sources from commercial establishments to feed Californians facing food insecurity. To comply with SB 1383 requirements, SCSS must change their current waste collection and processing practices, which impacts how customers sort their organic waste. Residents and businesses will be required to separate their organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, from their recyclables and other household waste products so these materials can be repurposed into value-add products that help our environment, such as mulch and compost.

“While SB 1383 is based on an important goal of decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change, the actions required by this new law will be complex to implement. We appreciate the 

work of SCSS in carrying out these requirements and continuing to provide cost-effective service to our community,” stated City Manager Matt Bronson.

SCSS and the Integrated Waste Management Authority (IWMA), which manages the City’s solid waste programs, will be distributing additional information on how to properly identify and dispose of organic waste in the coming months.

To learn more about SCSS services and rates for the region, visit SCSS’s website.