Why Are Trash Rates Increasing?
Garden Grove's trash collection rates are increasing above the normal annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment starting July 1, 2026. This increase is driven primarily by a new long-term landfill disposal agreement with the County of Orange, not a change in Republic Services' service fees.
In Garden Grove, the trash rate for all customers, regardless of service type, is a combination of two rates: the service component (the cost of providing collection and processing) and the disposal rate (the cost to landfill waste materials). The landfill disposal cost is a direct pass-through charge to ratepayers.
Key fact: The County landfill disposal rate is increasing from $43.76/ton to $67.00/ton on July 1, 2026, a 53% jump. This is the first substantial rate increase in nearly 30 years under the County's waste disposal agreement.
The normal annual adjustment (tied to CPI) is separate and affects only the collection service component of your bill, which is capped at 5% per year under the agreement with Republic Services.
County Landfill Disposal Rate: What's Changing?
The table below shows the per-ton landfill disposal rate under the new Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) Agreement.
Fiscal Year |
Landfill Rate per Ton |
Change from Prior Year |
Adjustment Mechanism |
|---|---|---|---|
2025-26 (current) |
$43.76 |
Baseline |
CPI only |
2026-27 |
$67.00 |
+53% |
New WISE Agreement |
2027-28 |
$74.00 |
+10% |
Phased increase |
2028-29 |
$81.00 |
+9% |
Phased increase |
2029-30 onward |
$81 + blended CPI |
~4.3% avg. (est.) |
Annual CPI true-up |
Beginning in FY 2029–30, the rate adjusts each July 1 based on a blended CPI: 60% national Water/Sewer/Solid Waste index plus 40% Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim area index. Based on the 2021–2025 average, this blended index was approximately 4.3% per year. There is no cap on how high rates can increase using the blended CPI formula.
What This Means for Your Bill
The disposal component of your monthly rate reflects the landfill fee on a per-household or per-service basis. The table below shows the full rate (service plus disposal) before and after July 1, 2026. Recycling and organics cart rates are not subject to the landfill surcharge.
Service Type |
Current Rate |
New Rate (July 1, 2026) |
Monthly Change |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard residential (35, 64, or 96-gal cart) |
$29.74 |
$33.75 |
+$4.01 |
Disabled / low-income senior 65+ (64 or 96-gal) |
$23.08 |
$26.76 |
+$3.68 |
Commercial 3-CY bin, 3× per week |
$519.49 |
$590.59 |
+$71.10 |
Note: Commercial rates vary by bin size and pickup frequency. See the full FY 2026–27 rate schedule for all service levels.
Why the County Raised Landfill Fees
Landfill Capacity Must Be Replaced
The Olinda Alpha Landfill in Brea, one of three active County landfills, is expected to close by 2036 and has already started reducing the amount of waste it accepts. The County must fund major expansions at the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill (Irvine) and Prima Deshecha Landfill (San Juan Capistrano) to replace that capacity.
State Organics Law (SB 1383) Compliance Costs
California's Short-Lived Climate Pollutants Reduction Act (SB 1383) requires a 75% reduction in organic waste sent to landfills. To comply, the County built new commercial composting facilities at all three active landfill sites. The cost of that infrastructure is recovered through disposal fees.
Operating Costs Rose While Rates Were Frozen
Under the prior Waste Disposal Agreement (WDA), in place since 1997, annual rate increases were capped at CPI only, even as labor, equipment, environmental compliance, and regulatory costs increased significantly. The County landfill system does not receive tax revenue; it must fully recover all costs through tipping fees.
County's Original Proposal Was Steeper
The County's initial WISE Agreement proposal in 2024 called for an immediate increase to $82/ton, rising to approximately $107/ton by 2036. Through negotiations led by the Orange County City Managers Association (OCCMA) on behalf of all participating cities and sanitary districts, the increase was restructured as a phased 3-year ramp: $67, then $74, then $81/ton.
Protections Negotiated by Cities and Districts
The WISE Agreement includes several provisions 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: 50% of participating cities may vote to hire an independent consultant to review the County's annual financial findings.
- Priority service: if imported waste threatens County capacity, jurisdictions with WISE Agreements receive priority disposal access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will rates keep going up after 2029?
Starting in FY 2029–30, the landfill disposal rate adjusts annually by the blended CPI index described above. An annual true-up review may freeze increases in years when County revenues are strong. Neither the City nor the Sanitary District controls the County's landfill rate adjustments.
Is Republic Services also raising rates?
Republic Services' collection service component can adjust up to 5% per year under the existing 2022 Amended and Restated Agreement. The landfill disposal cost is entirely separate; it is a pass-through to the County.
Did Garden Grove have a choice?
Jurisdictions that did not sign the WISE Agreement by April 30, 2026 face disposal rates at least 10% higher than the contract rate. The Garden Grove Sanitary District Board approved the WISE Agreement in April 2026 to secure the lower phased rate and the oversight and revenue-sharing protections included in the agreement.
Does this affect recycling or organics service rates?
No. Recycling cart 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 reflect service adjustments only.
Where can I see the full rate schedule?
The complete FY 2026–27 rate schedule for all residential, commercial, and special services is available in the full rate schedule.
When was this approved by the County?
The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted on the landfill disposal cost increase at the January 27, 2026 meeting on a 3 to 1 vote.
Who can I contact for more information about the WISE Agreement?
For questions about the disposal portion of the rates, contact OC Waste & Recycling, which operates the County landfills, at (714) 834-4000 or info@ocwr.ocgov.com.