HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 6723
City of Palo Alto (ID # 6723)
Finance Committee Staff Report
Report Type: Action Items Meeting Date: 4/19/2016
City of Palo Alto Page 1
Council Priority: Environmental Sustainability
Summary Title: Finance Committee Recommendation to Adopt the Refuse
Rates for FY 2017
Title: Finance Committee Discussion and Recommendation that Council
Adopt (as part of the Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Budget) a Resolution Amending
the Refuse Rates for Fiscal Year 2017 to Cover Program Costs for Both the
Residential and Commercial Sectors and to Provide a Reduced Cost for
Commercial Compost Collection
From: City Manager
Lead Department: Public Works
Recommendation
Staff recommends the Finance Committee:
Recommend the Council’s adoption (as part of the Fiscal Year 2017 Annual
Budget) of the attached resolution (Attachment A) amending Utility Rate
Schedule R-1 (Residential Refuse Rates) (Attachment B), and reorganizing
Utility Rate Schedules R-2 and R-3 (Commercial Refuse Rates) into a new
Utility Rate Schedule designated “R-C” (Commercial Refuse Rates)
(Attachment C)
Executive Summary
Staff recommends modifying the refuse customer rate schedule in FY17 by:
1) Increasing the City’s Residential Refuse rates by 9%;
2) Increasing the commercial garbage and construction and demolition (C&D)
waste rates by 5%;
3) Reducing the commercial compost rate by approximately 7% to achieve a
relative 20% discount compared to the garbage rates;
4) Adding commercial fees for litter reduction and overflowing containers;
City of Palo Alto Page 2
5) Modifying or deleting miscellaneous ancillary fees in the rate schedules;
and
6) Creating a new Utility Rate Schedule R-C that replaces R-2 and R-3 to
enable greater streamlining of Utility bills.
The proposed residential rate increase of 9% is consistent with year-two
projections of a three-year plan presented to the Finance Committee on April 7,
2015, to balance residential sector revenues with expenses (Finance Committee
SR #5566). Along with the first year increases in FY16 (9% increase for most
residential customers), the City implemented a residential food scraps collection
program that enabled single-family customers to divert compostables from their
garbage to their green carts. This change has resulted in approximately 10% of all
residential customers decreasing the size of their garbage cart sizes with many
customers getting significant savings on their refuse bills.
Commercial garbage and C&D rates have not increased since October 2010. Staff
recommends a 5% increase to the garbage rate and a 7% reduction in commercial
compost rates. Commercial compost service is currently priced at a 10% discount
relative to garbage. Staff recommends the discount be increased to a 20%
discount relative to garbage. This change will more closely align garbage and
composting with the specific costs of providing those services, and will incentivize
waste reduction.
For the commercial sector, staff projects that the 5% increase in garbage rates
and 7% reduction in compost rates will maintain current revenue levels.1 Many
individual commercial customers may save money on their refuse bill by sorting
their waste properly, which will allow customers to downsize their current
garbage service. Depending on the choices they make, other customers may see
increases in their bill.
1 The exception is C&D customers, who will be affected by the garbage rate
increase without the corresponding decrease in the compost rate. C&D activity is
highly variable, and in particular is sensitive to economic conditions. Any FY 17
revenues from C&D customers that exceed FY 17 costs will be allocated to
addressing the current negative reserve and rebuilding appropriate reserve levels.
This addresses one of the key functions of the refuse fund reserve, which is to
smooth impacts from the volatile C&D subsector.
City of Palo Alto Page 3
Background
Refuse Services
Residential and commercial refuse rates pay for more than just garbage
collection, including the following:
Garbage service –Curbside collection of the black garbage cart, processing
the garbage at the Sunnyvale Material and Recovery Transfer (SMaRT)
Station and landfilling the residual material at Kirby Canyon Landfill in San
Jose.
Recycling service – Curbside collection of the blue recycling cart, sorting the
recyclables into saleable commodities at the GreenWaste Recovery Charles
Street Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
Compost service – Curbside collection of the green cart; processing and
anaerobic digestion of the yard trimmings and food scraps at the Zero
Waste Energy Development (ZWED) facility in north San Jose to produce
compost and green energy.
Street Sweeping service – Weekly street sweeping services during the leaf
season and bi-weekly sweeping during other months of the year.
Annual Clean Up Day – Once a year each single-family residential refuse
customer can contact GreenWaste to pick up large items that cannot fit in
the black garbage cart, in addition to contained recyclables and yard
trimmings.
Zero Waste Palo Alto support – Residents and businesses can contact Zero
Waste Palo Alto City staff to gain valuable information on home
composting, reducing food waste, and zero waste events.
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) service – Weekly collection program at
the HHW Station located at the Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control
Plant.
Palo Alto Landfill post closure maintenance and monitoring – Ongoing
maintenance and monitoring at the now-closed Palo Alto Landfill.
The cost of refuse services for each program area is listed in Table 1 below. Zero
waste support is included in the “Solid Waste” category.
City of Palo Alto Page 4
Table 1: Refuse Program Costs Preliminary Budget FY 2017 $30.8 million
Solid Waste Recycling Compost Landfill Hazardous
Waste
Street
Sweeping
$15.3 m $4.2 m $5.5 m $3.8 m $0.6 m $1.4 m
Single-Family Residential Refuse Rates
In 2015, the City contracted with a consultant to prepare a Solid Waste Rate
Structure and Analysis Report. The report noted the revenue collected from
residential refuse customers was less than the cost to service the residential
customers. The Finance Committee approved staff’s proposed plan to increase
residential rates 28% (for most customers) over three years to provide for
sufficient revenues in the residential sector to cover all residential expenses by FY
2018. Residential rates were increased 9% in FY 2016 and staff currently proposes
another 9% in FY 2017 and estimate another 8% increase will be needed in FY
2018, consistent with the three-year 28% plan. There were no rate increases in FY
2014 or FY 2015.
Commercial Refuse Rates
The City’s municipal code requires commercial customers, including multifamily
residential complexes with 5 or more units, to subscribe to the appropriate level
of garbage, recycling, and compost service to contain waste. GreenWaste of Palo
Alto, the City’s contract refuse hauler, offers service one to six times per week.
Cart service includes 32 gallon, 64 gallon, and 96 gallon carts. Bin service includes
1 to 8 cubic yards (yd3) in size. Debris boxes are 7 yd3, 15 yd3, 20 yd3, 30 yd3, and
40 yd3 size. GreenWaste also collects commercial compactors. Currently, compost
service is priced at a 10% discount relative to the garbage price. Recycling service
is included as part of the garbage service and not a separate charge. Commercial
Refuse Rates have not increased since October 2010.
Discussion
Single-Family Residential Rates
In FY 2016, the City implemented the recommended first-year rate increase of 9%
for most customers. This proposed single-family residential rate increase is a
second year adjustment consistent with a three-year plan to balance residential
sector revenues with expenses presented to the Finance Committee on April 7,
2015 (Finance Committee SR #5566). On July 1, 2015, the City also began curbside
City of Palo Alto Page 5
collection of residential food scraps and soiled paper allowing residents to divert
compostables from their garbage to their green carts. Realizing that they now
produce very little garbage, some residential customers – around 10% – reduced
the size of their garbage cart and lowered the refuse portion of their Utility bill.
The recommended 9% rate increase in FY 2017 likely will lead to additional
residents “downsizing” their garbage cart, which is projected to result in a net 6%
revenue increase to the Refuse Fund. Table 2 lists the various garbage cart sizes
available and current corresponding rates and recommended rate increases.
Table 2: Recommended FY 2017 Adjustments (R-1 Single-Family Residential Rate
Schedule – Monthly Rates)
Cart Size Current Rates Recommended
FY 2017 Rates
Dollar Increase Percentage
Increase
20 gal $24.30 $26.48 $2.18 9%
32 gal $43.75 $47.69 $3.94 9%
64 gal $87.51 $95.38 $7.87 9%
96 gal $131.26 $143.07 $11.81 9%
To cover projected expenses through FY 2021, staff project rate increases of: 8%
in FY 2018, 5% in FY 2019, 3% in FY 2020, and 3% in FY 2021 (see Table 3 which
shows Refuse rate increases in the context of the other Utility rates)
City of Palo Alto Page 6
Table 3 Refuse Rate Increase in the Context of Other Utility Rate Increases
FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2019 FY 2020 FY 2021
Electric (preliminary
projection) 11% 10% 3% 0% 1%
Gas1 Utility 8% 9% 7% 1% 1%
Wastewater 9% 10% 9% 7% 6%
Water Utility 6% 9% 9% 6% 2%
Residential Refuse Rates
(FY17 proposed, FY18-20
projected)
9% 8% 5% 3% 3%
Storm Drain2 3.2% 2% to 3% 2% to 3% 2% to 3% 2% to 3%
Total Bill
Change3
(%) 8% 9% 6% 4% 2%
($/mo.) $20.80 $23.45 $18.49 $11.16 $7.77
(1) Gas rate changes are shown with commodity rates held constant. Actual gas commodity rates will
vary monthly with wholesale market fluctuations
(2) Storm Drain Rates increase annually by CPI; existing rates sunset in June 2017 unless reauthorized by
a majority vote of property owners.
(3) Change in estimated median residential bill, $245.23 as of June 30, 2015
The City offers one of the most comprehensive Refuse and Zero Waste programs
in the region. Nonetheless, the City’s least expensive rate option, a mini-can, is
priced within the range of neighboring cities (Table 3). The other cities’ rates are
the rates as of March 2016. The Palo Alto rates are proposed for July 1, 2016.
Cities with lower monthly rates generally offer fewer services.
Table 3: Regional Single-Family Residential Monthly Rate Comparison
City Least Expensive Rate
Palo Alto $26.48
Menlo Park $13.99
Mountain View $18.20
San Jose $32.07*
Santa Clara $18.93
Sunnyvale $36.94*
* Does not offer a minican/20 gallon cart
Commercial Rates
Commercial Refuse Rates have not increased since October 2010. Staff proposes a
5% across-the-board rate increase for all garbage and construction and
demolition (C&D) material collection and to increase the relative discount of
City of Palo Alto Page 7
compost service to garbage service from a current level of discount of 10% to 20%
relative to garbage (Tables 4 and 5). Decreasing the rate on commercial compost
may result in customer cost savings on Utility bills when they add compost service
and sort waste properly as required by the newly adopted Recycling and
Composting Ordinance.
Table 4: Recommended FY 2017 Adjustments (Commercial Garbage Rates)
Collection Frequency
Size 1 day/week 2 days/week 3 days/week 4 days/week 5 days/week 6 days/week Bin
Rental
32 gal $35.48 $3.15
64 gal $73.25 $163.66 $254.08 $344.49 $434.91 $525.33 $3.15
96 gal $109.87 $236.91 $363.95 $490.99 $618.03 $745.07 $3.15
1 CY $178.54 $363.95 $549.36 $733.62 $919.03 $1,103.30 $40.95
1.5 CY $243.78 $501.29 $759.95 $1,017.46 $1,274.97 $1,532.49 $40.95
2 CY $309.02 $638.63 $970.54 $1,301.30 $1,630.91 $1,961.67 $52.50
3 CY $437.20 $913.31 $1,388.28 $1,864.39 $2,341.65 $2,817.76 $67.20
4 CY $581.41 $1,174.26 $1,825.48 $2,448.09 $3,068.40 $3,689.87 $67.20
5 CY $709.59 $1,477.55 $2,243.22 $3,011.18 $3,779.14 $4,545.95 $81.90
6 CY $853.80 $1,768.25 $2,679.27 $3,592.59 $4,505.90 $5,418.06 $81.90
8 CY $1,113.60 $2,315.32 $3,519.34 $4,724.50 $5,928.51 $7,132.52 $107.10
Note: Customers with multiple cans or carts will be charged for the number of cans or carts.
Table 5: Recommended FY 2017 Adjustments (Commercial Compost Rates)
Collection Frequency
Size 1 day/week 2 days/week 3 days/week 4 days/week 5 days/week 6 days/week Bin
Rental
32 gal $28.38 $3.15
64 gal $58.60 $130.93 $203.26 $275.60 $347.93 $420.26 $3.15
96 gal $87.90 $189.53 $291.16 $392.79 $494.42 $596.06 $3.15
1 CY $142.83 $291.16 $439.49 $586.90 $735.25 $882.64 $40.95
1.5 CY $195.02 $401.03 $607.96 $813.97 $1,019.98 $1,225.99 $40.95
2 CY $247.21 $510.90 $776.43 $1,041.04 $1,304.73 $1,569.34 $52.50
3 CY $349.76 $730.65 $1,110.62 $1,491.51 $1,873.32 $2,254.21 $67.20
4 CY $465.12 $939.41 $1,460.38 $1,958.47 $2,454.72 $2,951.89 $67.20
5 CY $567.67 $1,182.04 $1,794.58 $2,408.94 $3,023.31 $3,636.76 $81.90
6 CY $683.04 $1,414.60 $2,143.42 $2,874.07 $3,604.72 $4,334.45 $81.90
City of Palo Alto Page 8
Cost Impact
The impact for customers who currently do not subscribe to compost service will
vary depending on how they change their service levels. Many customers, when
they begin sorting their waste properly, find that they can increase the size of
their recycling in addition to adding compost service. This shift can significantly
reduce the size of the customer’s garbage container. Customers with a 64 gallon
cart serviced once a week, that shift to 32 gallon garbage and 32 gallon compost
will see a 5% reduction in their Refuse bill. Some customers may see an increase
in their Refuse bill. For example, customers currently subscribing to a 2 cubic yard
garbage bin once a week who shift to a 1 cubic yard garbage bin and a 1 cubic
yard compost bin will see a 10% increase in their Refuse bill. For these customers,
it would be important to identify if they can further reduce the size of their
garbage service by increasing recycling and sorting properly. City and GreenWaste
staff will work with commercial customers, especially multifamily managers and
residents, to assist with sorting properly and providing solutions that could reduce
or minimize any cost increases. Overall, staff anticipates total commercial revenue
to remain the same.
Table 6: Recommended FY 2017 Adjustments (Debris Boxes)*
Category A includes garbage, mixed construction and demolition (C&D);
Category B includes single-source separated materials and can be directly marketed as a single
commodity.
On-Call Service
7 CY 15 CY 20 CY 30 CY 40 CY
Delivery (A or B) $132.30 $132.30 $132.30 $132.30 $132.30
Service (Cat A) $676.40 $676.40 $785.13 $1,004.87 $1,095.29
Service (Cat B) $344.40 $344.40 $399.84 $512.40 $558.60
Permanent Service
Category A
1x/week $2,638.07 $3,209.18 $4,121.34 $4,490.67
2x/week $5,276.15 $6,418.36 $8,241.54 $8,981.35
3x/week $7,915.36 $9,626.39 $12,362.89 $13,472.02
4x/week $10,552.29 $12,836.71 $16,485.38 $17,962.70
5x/week $13,190.36 $16,045.89 $20,606.72 $22,453.37
Rental $147.00 $195.30 $292.95 $390.60
City of Palo Alto Page 9
Category B
1x/week $1,419.49 $1,656.07 $1,776.18 $1,896.29
2x/week $2,838.92 $3,312.15 $3,552.37 $3,792.59
3x/week $4,258.47 $4,968.22 $5,332.19 $5,688.88
4x/week $5,677.96 $6,624.29 $7,104.73 $7,585.18
5x/week $7,097.45 $8,280.36 $8,880.92 $9,481.47
Rental $147.00 $195.30 $292.95 $390.60
*See R-C Utility Rate Schedule (Attachment C) for other debris box related charges NOTE:
GreenWaste of Palo Alto has the exclusive rights to haul any and all mixed material (garbage,
generic C&D, or mixed recycling) generated in Palo Alto.
Other Commercial Rate Modifications
As of April 1, 2016, the Recycling and Composting Ordinance requires all
commercial customers with 8 yd3 or more of weekly garbage service, food service
establishments, and multifamily complexes to subscribe to compost service and
sort waste properly (www.cityofpaloalto.org/rc-ordinance). The new rate
schedule is adjusted to contain the “extra solid waste pick-up” fee, which is the
difference in cost between a recycle or compost container and a garbage
container, and a “return trip” fee ($80.00) included as part of the ordinance.
These fees will only be charged after a multi-step process focused around
education and outreach to assist commercial customers with ordinance
compliance. Multifamily complexes will not be subject to these fees if they
provide appropriate education and signage for residents.
Staff propose adding an “overflowing cart” ($30.00) and “overflowing bin”
($50.00) fee and a “Whole cardboard box” fee ($25.00 for carts, $50.00 for bins)
to recover costs associated with overflowing containers and resultant litter. The
intent is to induce commercial customers to subscribe to the appropriate sized
containers, lessening the overflow and keeping the community clean. Breaking
down boxes also will reduce overflowing carts by increasing customer container
capacity.
Other fees, including “pull-out” charges have been modified to reflect current
costs and only apply to commercial customers.
The Commercial Refuse Collection Utility Rate Schedules R-2 and R-3 have been
consolidated into one Utility Rate Schedule R-C. This consolidation will reduce the
potential for billing errors and improve customer service.
City of Palo Alto Page 10
Timeline Refuse Rate Implementation Schedule
Task Schedule
Finance Committee final rate approval as part
of the budget process
April 19, 2016
Proposition 218 notices mailed May 1, 2016
Council approval June 13 and 20, 2016
New Refuse Rates take effect July 1, 2016
Resource Impact
The impacts of the proposed FY 2017 refuse rate increases will implement the
second year of a three-year phased program to realign rates between the
residential, commercial and roll-off sectors so that residential revenues are
sufficient to cover expenses and continue to rebuild the refuse reserve towards
appropriate levels.
1. Residential Program Revenue and Costs
The recommended rate increases will move Palo Alto closer to having the
residential program revenues fully cover the residential program expenses. The
Solid Waste Rate Structure and Analysis Report found residential rates needed to
be raised 28% (for most customers) over three years to provide sufficient
revenues in the residential sector to cover all residential expenses by FY 2018.
Residential rates were increased by 9% in FY 2016 and staff proposes another 9%
in FY 2017 and 8% in FY2018, consistent with the three-year plan. There were no
rate increases in FY 2014 or FY 2015.
City of Palo Alto Page 11
Chart 8: FY 2017 Residential Revenue Needs
The residential revenue shortfall should be eliminated with the recommended 8%
increase for FY 2018.
2. Continue Rebuilding the RSR
As mentioned above, the Refuse Fund is continuing the process of rebuilding its
financial reserves from a deficit of $5 million in FY 2011 to a target reserve of $3
million, which is approximately 10% of sales revenue. At the end of FY 2015, the
RSR had a negative balance of $777,000. This negative balance is attributable to
long-term liabilities associated with both (1) maintaining and monitoring the
City’s closed landfill, as mandated by state law; and (2) a long-term unfunded
pension liability known as “GASB 68 Pension” (Finance Committee ID #6144,
10/20/2015). As revenues are realized and maintenance and monitoring activities
completed, and as the pension liability is addressed, the liabilities will be reduced
and RSR balance will become positive. The FY 2017 proposed rate modifications
should result in a positive RSR by FY 2018 (Chart 9). The reserve target is
projected to be reached by the close of FY 2021.
City of Palo Alto Page 12
Chart 9: Historic and Projected Refuse Fund Reserves
To minimize the need for rate increases, staff implemented several significant
cost saving measures in recent years, including but not limited to (1) accelerating
the filling and closing the City’s landfill; (2) contracting out street sweeping
operations and moving to less frequent sweeping during the non-leaf season; and
(3) improvements and efficiencies gained in the City’s household hazardous waste
collection program.
Staff also notes that approximately two-thirds of the Refuse Program’s expenses
are based on agreements with built-in CPI increases. The projections for FY 2017
and the near-term future are based on 3% CPI increases for these agreements.
These increases are addressed in the recommended rates for both the residential
and commercial sectors.
Policy Implications
There are no policy changes contained in the adoption of the proposed new
Refuse Rates. New steps are being taken to more fully implement the Zero Waste
policies already adopted by Council in the Zero Waste Plan and Zero Waste
Operations Plan.
City of Palo Alto Page 13
Attachments:
Attachment A - Resolution (DOCX)
Attachment B - R-1 FY2017 Residential Refuse Rates (DOCX)
Attachment C - R-C FY2017 Commercial Refuse Rates (DOCX)
Attachment A
Resolution No. XXXX Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Amending the Utility Rate Schedule R-l and
Consolidating the Utility Rate Schedules R-2 and R-3 with the Utility Rate Schedule R-C for
a Refuse Rate Increase
RECITIALS
A. Pursuant to Chapter 12.20.010 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, the City Council may by resolution
adopt rules and regulations governing utility services and the fees and charges therefore; and
B. The Council has considered the need for an adjustment in refuse collection rates to avoid a decrease
in the Refuse Fund Rate Stabilization Reserve levels; and
C. Pursuant to Article XIIID Sec. 6 of the California Constitution, on June XX, 2016 the Council of the
City of Palo Alto held a public hearing to consider all protests against the proposed refuse rate fee increases; and
D. The total number of written protests presented by the close of the public hearing was less than fifty
percent (50%) of the total number of customers subject to the proposed refuse rate fee increases.
The Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. Pursuant to Section 12.20.010 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code, Utility Rate Schedule R-l
(Domestic Refuse Collection) is hereby amended to read in accordance with Sheets R-l-l, R-1-2, and the Utility Rate
Schedules R-2 and R-3 is hereby consolidated into Utility Rate Schedule R-C (Commercial Refuse Collection) to
read in accordance with Sheets R-C-1, R-C-2, R-C-3, R-C-4, R-C-5, R-C-6, R-C-7, and R-C-8, attached hereto and
incorporated herein. The foregoing Utility Rate Schedules, as amended, shall become effective on July 1, 2016.
SECTION 2. The rates contained in the attached Rate Schedules shall be in effect until Council adopts
a new rate structure.
SECTION 3. The Council finds that the revenue derived from the authorized adjustments of the refuse
collection rates shall be used only for the purposes set forth in Article VII, Section 2, of the Charter of the City of
Palo Alto.
SECTION 4. The Council finds that the adoption of this resolution does not constitute a project under the
California Environmental Quality Act, California Public Resources Code section 21080, subdivision (b)(8).
DOMESTIC REFUSE COLLECTION
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE R-1
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-16
Supersedes Rate Schedule R-1 dated
7-01-15 Sheet No. R-1-1
A. APPLICABILITY:
This schedule applies to each occupied domestic dwelling as required by City ordinance,
including separate single-family domestic dwelling and multi-unit dwellings (4 units or less). An occupied dwelling unit is defined as any home, apartment unit, cottage, flat or duplex unit, having kitchen, bath, and sleeping facilities, and to which gas or electric service is being rendered.
B. TERRITORY:
Within the incorporated limits of the City of Palo Alto and on land owned or leased by the City.
C. RATES:
The refuse rates below provide weekly collection, processing and disposal of materials properly deposited in the number of garbage containers indicated below, as well as weekly collection and processing of recyclables from blue carts (standard service includes one 64-gallon blue cart),
weekly collection and processing of compostables (yard trimmings, food scraps, and food soiled
paper) from green carts (standard service includes one 96-gallon green cart), ongoing
maintenance of the closed Palo Alto Landfill, zero waste programs, street sweeping service, the household hazardous waste program, and the annual Clean Up Day.
Monthly Refuse Services Cost
Garbage Cart Sizes
Mini-can/20-gallon cart * 26.48
1 32-gallon cart** 47.69
1 64-gallon cart 95.38
1 96-gallon cart 143.07
*Mini-can service cannot be combined with any other cart service
**Standard cart service is one 32-gallon cart.
D. SPECIAL ITEM CHARGES:
1. Stove/washer/dryer/water heater pick up * ...................................................................... 25.00 2. Freezer/refrigerator/air conditioner/garbage compactor pick up * .................................. 40.00
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES
Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-15
Supersedes Rate Schedule R-1 dated
11-01-14 Sheet No. R-1-2
3. Upholstered furniture pick up (per unit) * ....................................................................... 15.00 4. Mattress pick up * ............................................................................................................ 15.00 5. Tire pick up (per tire, limit of 4 tires) * ........................................................................... 20.00 6. Pallet pick up *................................................................................................................. 5.00 * “Surcharge special” fee (see E5. below) applies when special item is not collected under the annual Clean Up Day Program guidelines.
E. SPECIAL LABOR CHARGES:
1. Return trip (next day service)……………………………………………………. ......... 24.00 2. Return trip (same day service) ……………………………………………………. ....... 36.00 3. Extra collection (for service of additional material; charged per cubic yard) ................ 60.00 4. Miscellaneous 1 person service rate (pull out service) ............................................. 2.50/min 5. Surcharge special (one time pick up of large or non-standard items; or delivery of containers for special events) ………….... ................................................................................. 80.00 6. Repair rate ................................................................................................ 2.50/min + material 7. Back/side yard collection of garbage (monthly charge per residence – available to current back/side yard service customer only) ………………. ................................................... 3.66
F. SPECIAL CART CHARGES: 1. 32-gallon cart rental*** …………………………… .........................................................3.00 2. 64-gallon cart rental*** …………………………… .........................................................3.00 3. 96-gallon cart rental*** …………………………… .........................................................3.00 4. 20-gallon cart purchase ......................................................................................................60.00 5. 32-gallon cart purchase…………………………………………………………… ........ 51.00 6. 64-gallon cart purchase……………………………………………………………. ...... 57.00 7. 96-gallon cart purchase…………………………………………………………….. ...... 62.00 8. Cart wash ………………………………………………………………………….. ...... 30.00 9. Compost cart contamination (entire cart dumped) ........................................................... 30.00 10. Recycling cart contamination (entire cart dumped)……………………………….. ....... 30.00 11. Damaged cart exchange (one allowed per customer each calendar year at no cost). ...... 20.00 12. Monthly key service (customer provided lock) ………………………………………. . 15.00 13. Lock (Collector provided) …………………………………………………………....... 25.00 14. Cart lock installation………………………………………………………………. ....... 40.00 *** Monthly charge for each additional cart of service above three carts for the compostable materials or recycling cart.
COMMERCIAL REFUSE COLLECTION
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE R-C
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-16
Supersedes Sheets .R-2-1&2 and R-3-1 through R-3-5
dated 10-01-11 Sheet No. R-C-1
A. APPLICABILITY: This schedule applies to all occupied establishments other than residential premises as required
by City ordinance.
B. TERRITORY: Within the incorporated limits of the City of Palo Alto and on land owned or leased by the City.
C. RATES:
The refuse rates below provide collection, processing and disposal of materials properly
deposited in the number of refuse containers indicated below, as well as collection and processing of recyclables from special blue carts. The refuse rates below also provide hazardous waste programs, zero waste programs, ongoing maintenance of the closed Palo Alto Landfill, and street sweeping programs.
(1) MONTHLY GARBAGE CAN/CARTS
Collection Frequency
Cart Sizes 1x/week 2x/week 3x/week 4x/week 5x/week 6x/week Cart Rental
32-gal. can or cart $35.48 $3.15
64-gal. cart* 73.25 163.66 254.08 344.49 434.91 525.33 3.15
96-gal. cart 109.87 236.91 363.95 490.99 618.03 745.07 3.15
* Standard service is one 64-gallon cart.
COMMERCIAL REFUSE COLLECTION
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE R-C
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-16
Supersedes Sheets .R-2-1&2 and R-3-1 through R-3-5
dated 10-01-11 Sheet No. R-C-2
(2) MONTHLY GARBAGE BINS
Size (cubic
yards)
Collection Frequency
Bin Rental 1x/week 2x/week 3x/week 4x/week 5x/week 6x/week
1 $178.54 $363.95 $549.36 $733.62 $919.03 $1,103.30 $40.95
1.5 243.78 501.29 759.95 1,017.46 1,274.97 1,532.49 40.95
2 309.02 638.63 970.54 1,301.30 1,630.91 1,961.67 52.50
3 437.20 913.31 1,388.28 1,864.39 2,341.65 2,817.76 67.20
4 581.41 1,174.26 1,825.48 2,448.09 3,068.40 3,689.87 67.20
5 709.59 1,477.55 2,243.22 3,011.18 3,779.14 4,545.95 81.90
6 853.80 1,768.25 2,679.27 3,592.59 4,505.90 5,418.06 81.90
8 1,113.60 2,315.32 3,519.34 4,724.50 5,928.51 7,132.52 107.10
(3) MONTHLY COMPOST CARTS*
Collection Frequency
Cart Sizes 1x/week 2x/week 3x/week 4x/week 5x/week 6x/week Bin Rental
32-gal. cart $28.38 $3.15
64-gal. cart 58.60 130.93 203.26 275.60 347.93 420.26 3.15
96-gal. cart 87.90 189.53 291.16 392.79 494.42 596.06 3.15
*Multi-unit dwellings with five (5) to ten (10) units may receive up to one 96-gallon compostables cart collected once per week at no charge. Service over 96 gallons will be charged
as described in G-7 below. Note: “Cart wash” (see G-1) is available and the additional cost of $30 will be assessed to account holders if odors become a public nuisance.
COMMERCIAL REFUSE COLLECTION
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE R-C
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-16
Supersedes Sheets .R-2-1&2 and R-3-1 through R-3-5
dated 10-01-11 Sheet No. R-C-3
(4) MONTHLY COMPOST BINS
Size (cubic
yards)
Collection Frequency Monthly
Bin Rental 1x/week 2x/week 3x/week 4x/week 5x/week 6x/week
1 $142.83 $291.16 $439.49 $586.90 $735.25 $882.64 $40.95
1.5 195.02 401.03 607.96 813.97 1,019.98 1,225.99 40.95
2 247.21 510.90 776.43 1,041.04 1,304.73 1,569.34 52.50
3 349.76 730.65 1,110.62 1,491.51 1,873.32 2,254.21 67.20
4 465.12 939.41 1,460.38 1,958.47 2,454.72 2,951.89 67.20
5 567.67 1,182.04 1,794.58 2,408.94 3,023.31 3,636.76 81.90
6 683.04 1,414.60 2,143.42 2,874.07 3,604.72 4,334.45 81.90
Note: “Bin wash” (see G-2) is available and the additional cost of $40 will be assessed to account holders if odors become a public nuisance.
(5) DEBRIS BOXES
NOTE: GreenWaste of Palo Alto has the exclusive rights to haul any and all mixed material (garbage, generic C&D, or mixed recycling) generated in Palo Alto.
Category A: Includes garbage, mixed construction and demolition (C&D).
Category B: Includes single-source separated materials and can be and directly marketed as a single commodity.
Debris Box On-Call Service*
7 CY 15 CY 20 CY 30 CY 40 CY
Delivery (A or B) $132.30 $132.30 $132.30 $132.30 $132.30
Service (Cat A) 676.40 676.40 785.13 1,004.87 1,095.29
Service (Cat B) 344.40 344.40 399.84 512.40 558.60
Non-use ** $76.00 $76.00 $76.00 $76.00 $76.00
* Additional “Contaminated charge” of $185.30 (see I-5) may apply on debris boxes used for construction and demolition materials.
**Within a fourteen (14) day period.
COMMERCIAL REFUSE COLLECTION
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE R-C
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-16
Supersedes Sheets .R-2-1&2 and R-3-1 through R-3-5
dated 10-01-11 Sheet No. R-C-4
Debris Box Category A
Permanent Service
15 CY 20 CY 30 CY 40 CY
1x/week $2,638.07 $3,209.18 $4,121.34 $4,490.67
2x/week 5,276.15 6,418.36 8,241.54 8,981.35
3x/week 7,915.36 9,626.39 12,362.89 13,472.02
4x/week 10,552.29 12,836.71 16,485.38 17,962.70
5x/week 13,190.36 16,045.89 20,606.72 22,453.37
Rental 147.00 195.30 292.95 390.60
Debris Box Category B
Permanent Service
15 CY 20 CY 30 CY 40 CY
1x/week $1,419.49 $1,656.07 $1,776.18 $1,896.29
2x/week 2,838.92 3,312.15 3,552.37 3,792.59
3x/week 4,258.47 4,968.22 5,332.19 5,688.88
4x/week 5,677.96 6,624.29 7,104.73 7,585.18
5x/week 7,097.45 8,280.36 8,880.92 9,481.47
Rental 147.00 195.30 292.95 390.60
COMMERCIAL REFUSE COLLECTION
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE R-C
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-16
Supersedes Sheets .R-2-1&2 and R-3-1 through R-3-5
dated 10-01-11 Sheet No. R-C-5
D. SPECIAL ITEM CHARGES*: 1. Stove/washer/dryer/heater pick up ................................................................................... 25.00 2. Freezer/refrigerator/air conditioner (residential only) ..................................................... 40.00 3. Upholstered furniture pick up ......................................................................................... 15.00 4. Mattress pick up .............................................................................................................. 15.00 5. Tire pick up (per tire, limit of 4 tires) ............................................................................. 20.00 6. Pallet pick up ................................................................................................................... 5.00 * Requests for pick up of special items must be made scheduled in advance of regular pick up days. If no request is made, am “Extra collection” fee (see E-1) will be applied.
E. SPECIAL LABOR CHARGES: 1. Extra collection (for service of additional material; charged per cubic yard) ................ 60.00 2. Miscellaneous 1 person service rate ……………………………………….. ........... 2.50/min 3. Repair rate …………………………………………. ..................................2.50/min + material 4. Return trip/Special trip…….…………………………………………………… ............ 80.00 5. Special Events Delivery....................................................................................................................... 30.00 Materials and Service (per waste station) ................................................................... 20.00
(6) Pullout Service (per container)
Carts Bins
1x/week $50.00 $200.00
2x/week 100.00 400.00
3x/week 150.00 600.00
4x/week 200.00 800.00
5x/week 250.00 1,000.00 6x/week 300.00 1,200.00
7. Whole cardboard box (boxes that have not been broken down) Cart .............................................................................................................................. 25.00 Bin ............................................................................................................................... 50.00 8. Overflowing container Cart .............................................................................................................................. 30.00 Bin ............................................................................................................................... 50.00
COMMERCIAL REFUSE COLLECTION
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE R-C
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-16
Supersedes Sheets .R-2-1&2 and R-3-1 through R-3-5
dated 10-01-11 Sheet No. R-2-6
F. RECYCLING AND COMPOST ORDINANCE CHARGES: If contamination is identified in a recycling or compost cart or bin, the customer will have an opportunity to remove the contamination and will only be charged a “Return trip” fee. If the customer chooses to not remove the contamination, the customer will be charged an “Extra solid waste pick-up” fee in addition to a “Return trip” fee. 1. Return trip…….…………………………………………………………………………. 80.00
(2) EXTRA SOLID WASTE PICK UP (for contaminated recycling or compost containers
only. Additional charges will apply to any materials left outside of the containers)
Cart/Bin
Size Contaminated Recycling Contaminated Compost
32-gal. $8.19 $1.64
64-gal. 16.92 3.38
96-gal 25.37 5.07
1 CY 41.23 8.25
1.5 CY 56.30 11.26
2 CY 71.37 14.27
3 CY 100.97 20.19
4 CY 134.27 26.85
5 CY 163.88 32.78
6 CY 197.18 39.44
8 CY 257.18 51.44
3. De minimus (no garbage service but subscribes to both compost and recycling) ............. 25.00
G. SPECIAL CART AND BIN CHARGES: 1. Cart wash …………………………………………………………………………. ....... 30.00 2. Bin wash........................................................................................................................... 40.00 3. Cart exchange ….............................................................................................................. 20.00 4. Monthly key service (customer provided lock) per lock………………………………… 15.00 5. Lock (Contractor provided)………………………………………………………….... . 25.00 6. Cart lock installation………………………………………………………………. ....... 40.00 7. Each additional 32-gallon increment of weekly compostables cart service (in excess of 96 gallons per week) for multi-unit dwellings with five (5) to ten (10) units (monthly
COMMERCIAL REFUSE COLLECTION
UTILITY RATE SCHEDULE R-C
CITY OF PALO ALTO UTILITIES Issued by the City Council
Effective 7-01-16
Supersedes Sheets .R-2-1&2 and R-3-1 through R-3-5
dated 10-01-11 Sheet No. R-2-7
charge).............................................................................................................................. 20.00 8. Temporary bin-delivery (per bin)………………………………………………… ........ 80.00 9. Temporary bin non-use fee (within a fourteen (14) day period) ………………………25.00 10. Auto-bar lock installation ……………………………………………………… ........... 200.00
H. SPECIAL DEBRIS BOX CHARGES: 1. Debris box delivery …………………………………….. ............................................... 132.30 2. Debris box non-use (within a fourteen (14) day period)…………………………….. 76.00 3. Special debris box service between 12 PM to 6 PM ………………………………. ...... 100.00 4. Special debris box service between 6 PM to 12 AM ……………………………. ........ 200.00 5. Special debris box service on Saturday before 12 PM ……………………………. ...... 100.00 6. Special debris box service on Sunday before 6 PM ……………………………. ........... 300.00 7. Special debris box service on Sunday, 6 PM to 12 AM ……………………….. ........... 400.00 8. Contaminated loads of construction and demolition recycling materials………. ........... 185.30 9. Overweight: 8 ton weight limit .......................................................................... 60.00 per ton (or fraction thereof) over 8 tons, up to 10 tons. Note: GreenWaste cannot transport a debris box that is greater than 10 tons.
I. SPECIAL COMPACTOR CHARGES: 1. Compacted garbage (per compacted cubic yard) …………………………………… .... 73.25 2. Compacted compostables (per compacted cubic yard) ……………………………… ... 58.60 3. Compacted recyclables (transportation) ……………………………… ......................... 200.00 4. Overweight (per ton) ........................................................................................................ 60.00 5. Contaminated loads of construction and demolition recycling materials ........................ 185.30 {End}