City of Fullerton solid waste and recycling services are provided solely by Republic Services.

City of Fullerton landfill waste is collected by Republic Services and disposed utilizing the Orange County Waste & Recycling landfill system. 

Original Solid Waste Contract and All Executed Amendments

Original Solid Waste Contract

First Amendment

Second Amendment 

Third Amendment

Rate Sheet FY 26-27

County of Orange Landfill Disposal Contract and All Executed Amendments

Original Waste Disposal Agreement (WDA)

First Amendment

Second Amendment

Original Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) Agreement

NEW SOLID WASTE SERVICES RATE ADJUSTMENT BEGINNING JULY 1, 2026

On March 3, 2026, the City Council approved a new Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) Agreement with the County of Orange, establishing updated municipal solid waste disposal rates for a ten-year term ending June 30, 2036. Several other Orange County municipalities have also entered into this regional agreement.

Beginning July 1, 2026, the Fiscal Year 2026–2027 solid waste services rates for all residential and commercial customers will increase beyond the standard Annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) service adjustment. The residential single‑family and multi-family basic rate will increase from $27.29 to $30.78. The commercial rate for customers with a landfill three‑cubic‑yard bin, serviced once per week, will increase from $239.73 to $263.37.

The rate adjustment includes two components. The first is the upcoming fiscal year’s 3.22% Annual CPI service adjustment, as outlined in Section 24.5 of the City’s current Solid Waste Handling Services contract with Republic Services. The second reflects a significant 53.11% increase resulting from the County of Orange Waste & Recycling’s (OCWR) new landfill disposal rates. Disposal rates are determined at County Landfills by OCWR, which are pass-through costs paid by ratepayers, and reflects their cost of operation, maintenance, infrastructure, and costs related to legislative mandates. The City of Fullerton does not have authority over OCWR’s disposal rates.

For further inquiries about the disposal portion of the rates, please contact OCWR by calling (714) 834-4000, or sending an email to info@ocwr.ocgov.com.

COUNTY LANDFILL DISPOSAL RATE CHANGES

The table below shows the per-ton landfill disposal rate under the new WISE Agreement between the City of Fullerton and the County of Orange.

 *Beginning in FY 2029–30, the rate adjusts each July 1 based on a blended CPI: 60% national Water/Sewer/Solid Waste index + 40% Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim area index. Based on the 2021–2025 average, this blended index ran approximately 4.3% per year.

BILLING IMPLICATIONS

The disposal component of the monthly rate reflects the landfill fee on a per-household or per-service basis. The table below shows the full rate (service + disposal) before and after July 1, 2026. Recycling and organics cart rates are not subject to the landfill surcharge.

*Note: Commercial rates vary by bin size and pickup frequency. See the full FY 2026–27 rate schedule for all service levels. 

COUNTY LANDFILL FEE CHANGES EXPLAINED

1. Landfill Capacity Must Be Replaced

The Olinda Alpha Landfill in Brea, one of three active County landfills, is expected to close by 2036. To maintain long-term disposal capacity, the County is investing in major expansions at the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill (Irvine) and Prima Deshecha Landfill (San Juan Capistrano) to replace that capacity. Over the 10-year agreement period, these projects are expected to cost more than $600 million, helping ensure reliable waste disposal services for years to come.

2. State Organics Law Compliance Costs

Under Senate Bill 1383, requires California to reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills by 75%. To meet these requirements, the County constructed new commercial composting facilities at its three active landfill sites. The cost of building and operating this infrastructure is recovered through landfill disposal fees.

3. Operating Costs Rose While Rates Were Frozen

Under the previous Waste Disposal Agreement (WDA), which had been in place since 1997, annual disposal rate increases were limited to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), even as labor, equipment, environmental compliance, and regulatory costs rose significantly. Since the County's landfill system is self-supporting and does not receive tax revenue, all
operating and capital costs must be recovered through landfill disposal fees.

4. Original County Proposal Had Steeper Increases

The County's initial 2024 WISE Agreement proposal included an immediate increase in the landfill disposal rate to $82 per ton, with rates projected to reach approximately $107 per ton by 2036. Through negotiations led by the Orange County City Managers Association (OCCMA) on behalf of participating cities and sanitary districts, the increase was restructured into a more gradual, three-year phase-in: $67 → $74 → $81 per ton.

PROTECTIONS NEGOTIATED BY CITIES AND DISTRICTS

The WISE Agreement includes several provisions designed to protect ratepayers over the 10-year term:

• Annual “true-up” Review Beginning in 2030: If County revenues exceed full cost recovery needs, future CPI adjustments may be frozen.
• Independent Oversight: If requested by 50% of participating cities, an independent consultant may be retained to review the County’s annual financial findings.
• Revenue Sharing: Net revenues from out-of-county waste accepted at County landfills are split 50/50 between the County and participating jurisdictions. Fullerton’s share is 4.08% of the Orange County cities’ portion.
• Priority Service: If imported waste impacts available capacity, jurisdictions with WISE Agreements receive priority access to disposal services.
• 10% Rate Protection: Jurisdictions that signed by April 30, 2026 secured the contracted rate; non-signing jurisdictions will pay at least 10% more per ton.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will Disposal Rates Keep Rising After 2029?

Yes. Beginning in FY 2029-30, the landfill disposal rate will adjust annually based on the blended CPI index described above. An annual “true-up” review may result in rate increases being frozen in years when County revenues are sufficient to exceed full cost recovery needs. Landfill rates are set by the County and are not controlled by the City of Fullerton or other Orange County municipalities.

Are Republic Services Rates Increasing as Well?

Yes. Under the existing 2009 Solid Waste Handling Services Agreement, Republic Services may adjust the collection service component by up to 6 percent each year. Landfill disposal costs are separate from collection rates; Republic Services collects these fees and passes them directly to the County, and they do not generate any profit for the waste hauler.

Was there a deadline to entering into the WISE Agreement?

Yes. Jurisdictions that did not sign the WISE Agreement by April 30, 2026 would face disposal rates at least 10% higher than the contract rate. In March 2026, the Fullerton City Council
approved the WISE Agreement to secure the lower phased-in rate, as well as the oversight and revenue-sharing protections included in the agreement.

Does This Affect Recycling or Organics Service Rates?

No. Recycling and organics (green waste) cart service rates are not subject to the landfill disposal surcharge. Only refuse (trash) service rates include a landfill disposal component. Recycling and organics rates are based solely on service-related costs and adjustments.

Where Can I View the Full Rate Schedule?

The complete FY 2026–27 rate schedule for all residential, commercial, and special services can be found at the top of this webpage.

TRANSLATED REPUBLIC SERVICES POSTCARD CONTENT

Nuevo ajuste en las tarifas de los servicios de residuos sólidos a partir del 1 de julio de 2026

El 3 de marzo de 2026, el Concejo Municipal de Fullerton aprobó un nuevo Acuerdo del Sistema de Infraestructura de Residuos (WISE) con el Condado de Orange, que establece tarifas actualizadas para la disposición de residuos sólidos municipales por un período de 10 años que finalizará el 30 de junio de 2036. Varias ciudades del Condado de Orange también han firmado este acuerdo regional.

A partir del 1 de julio de 2026, aumentarán las tarifas de los servicios de desechos residuos sólidos para los clientes residenciales y comerciales. La tarifa básica residencial para viviendas unifamiliares y multifamiliares aumentará de $27.29 a $30.78, y la tarifa comercial para un contenedor de tres yardas cúbicas con servicio semanal aumentará de $239.73 a $263.37.

El aumento incluye un ajuste del 3.22% basado en el Índice de Precios al Consumidor, conforme al contrato de Servicios de Manejo de Residuos Sólidos de la Ciudad con Republic Services, así como un aumento del 53.11% en las tarifas de disposición en los vertederos del Condado de Orange. Estos costos de disposición son cargos transferidos establecidos por el Condado y reflejan operaciones del vertedero, mantenimiento, infraestructura y requisitos exigidos por el estado. La Ciudad no controla las tarifas de disposición del Condado.

Para preguntas relacionadas con las tarifas de disposición en los vertederos, comuníquese con Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCWR) al (714) 834-4000 o info@ocwr.ocgov.com.

2026년 7월 1일부터 시행되는 새로운 고형폐기물 서비스 요금 조정

 2026년 3월 3일, 풀러턴 시의회는 오렌지 카운티와 새로운 WISE(Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise) 협약을 승인하였습니다. 이 협약은 2036년 6월 30일까지 10년간 적용되는 새로운 생활폐기물 매립 처리 요금을 규정하며, 오렌지 카운티의 여러 도시도 이 지역 협약에 참여하고 있습니다. 2026년 7월 1일부터, 주거용 및 상업용 고형폐기물(쓰레기) 서비스 요금이 인상됩니다. 단독주택 및 다세대주택의 기본요금은 월 $27.29에서 $30.78로 인상되며, 주 1회 수거되는 3 세제곱 야드 상업용 컨테이너 요금은 $239.73에서 $263.37로 인상됩니다. 이번 요금 인상에는 Republic Services와 풀러턴시 간의 고형폐기물 처리 계약에 따라 적용되는 3.22% 소비자물가지수(CPI) 조정과, 오렌지 카운티의 53.11% 매립장 처리비 인상이 포함되어 있습니다. 매립장 처리 비용은 오렌지카운티가 결정하는 전가(pass-through)비용으로, 매립장 운영, 유지보수, 기반시설 및 주 정부의 의무 규정 준수에 필요한비용을 반영합니다. 풀러턴시는 오렌지카운티의 폐기물 처리 요금을 결정하거나 통제하지 않습니다.

매립장 처리 요금에 관한 문의는 아래로 연락해 주시기 바랍니다.

Orange County Waste & Recycling (OCWR)

전화: (714) 834-4000

이메일: info@ocwr.ocgov.com

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