City News

Sonoma County Resource Recovery (SCRR) Selected as Sebastopol’s Solid Waste Service Contractor

January 23, 2025, City News

We’ve received many comments and questions about how and why SCRR was chosen over Recology as Sebastopol’s new solid waste (trash, recycling and compost) contractor. Below please find history and details. The transition process is under way and will take several months. We will update information on the city website as it becomes available.

• Extending the current agreement with Recology at current rates was not possible – Recology’s final rate proposal prior to cessation of negotiations was for a 57% increase in rates from July 1, 2024 through July 1, 2027. The City could not agree to such increases and thus proceeded to competitive procurement via RFP.
• The City has publicly discussed its reasons for proceeding to competitive RFP for new solid waste contractor for nearly a year and has discussed the item in five prior publicly agendized meetings. 
• The City Council conducted an open and competitive procurement process in 2024, with expert assistance to ensure the integrity of the process, quality services for residents and businesses, and competitive rates.  
• SCRR was the highest-ranked proposer because it delivered the lowest overall base service rates for all customers: single family, multi-family, and commercial.
  • Single-family residents will pay an average of 5% less with SCRR than the rates proposed by Recology. 
  • Estimated rates for most businesses will be lower than the rates proposed by Recology. 
  • Estimated 74% of multi-family and commercial customers will have no additional charges or very minimal additional charges for recycling and organics services. 
  • Estimated 26% of commercial and multi-family customers would pay more with SCRR compared to Recology because of additional recycling and organics charges if they don’t adjust service levels or otherwise workout cost effectiveness measures with SCRR. These are the folks who could potentially reduce such charges by right sizing and waste reduction. 
  • For more details, see the consultant presentation here. 

• SCRR demonstrated greater willingness to work collaboratively with the City to address service concerns and customer service needs.
• With SCRR, low income and minimum service level rates will be lower than with Recology –because SCRR’s minimum base garbage rates are lower than Recology’s, benefiting low waste generating customers and those with fixed incomes. 
• SCRR incentivizes reduction of waste by providing financial incentives to divert recyclable and organic waste from landfill.
• SCRR will collaborate with multi-family dwellings and businesses to “right-size” services to reduce or eliminate changes in costs. They will also work with businesses to set up proper source separation.

SEE IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE HERE. NOTE THAT THIS IS A ROLLING DOCUMENT THAT WILL BE FREQUENTLY UPDATED.

New and Enhanced Services for Customers and the Community

• NEW curbside holiday tree pickup service for single-family and multi-family customers.
• NEW bulky waste pick-ups for single-family residents included in the monthly rates (new offering is up to two pick-ups per year at no additional charge; residents previously paid directly for this service offering).
• NEW bulky waste pick-up options for multi-family customers, who previously did not have access to this service, also included in the monthly rates (up to two pick-ups per year, coordinated by the property manager, at no additional charge).
• NEW solid waste services and portable toilet event support for City-sponsored events (including events hosted by non-profits), up to $20,000 annually.
• NEW Citywide abandoned/illegal dumping removal assistance collection within 24 hours of request.
• Enhanced street sweeping services (i.e., now including storm-drain vactoring) services.
• One-time funding for improved downtown waste containers totaling $25,000.
• Bulky item collection for City facilities (up to two pick-ups per facility per year at no additional charge).
• Concrete Collection at the City’s Corporation Yard (up to ten times per year at no additional charge).