Frequently Asked Questions
The collection system is an open market system. Currently, the north County residential customers who use wheeled plastic carts operate under this system. The open market system allows residents to choose any waste hauler willing to provide services in the unincorporated north County. The waste hauler sets the rates, which may not be consistent from one customer to another for equivalent services. With this type of system, customers pay the waste hauler directly and there is no oversight by the County. Open market trash collection services do not include provisions to help address illegal dumping.
Commercial and residential customers who use metal dumpsters receive services through the County’s non-exclusive commercial franchise system where they can choose any County-approved waste hauler for their waste collection services. Like the open market system, the waste haulers set the rates and there is County oversight.
Los Angeles County Public Works oversees the solid waste contracts and services for Los Angeles County unincorporated communities. In addition to contracting with the waste hauling company, Public Works ensures that all parcels receive a uniform level of service, consistent rates that cannot increase without County approval, and quality customer service. Public Works also helps coordinate and oversees additional services like illegal dumping in the public right-of-way and bulky item collection, annual clean up events, and compost and mulch giveaways provided to customers as part of their service.
A Garbage Disposal District (GDD) is a designated geographic area within unincorporated Los Angeles County where weekly collection of trash, recyclables, organic waste (green waste and food waste) and other services are provided to residents and businesses by a waste hauling company contracted with Public Works. Waste collection fees are paid through each parcel’s annual property tax bill and Public Works oversees the contract to ensure appropriate service is consistently provided at the approved rates.
A GDD ensures all occupied parcels receive consistent, high-quality waste collection services at the best rate possible. A GDD is established upon voter approval. A GDD waste hauler is awarded the contract following a competitive bidding process where waste haulers submit bids to provide these services and the lowest priced bidder is selected. A GDD is structured to combat illegal dumping by ensuring every property owner (including owners of vacant parcels) contributes to funding for programs to collect and prevent illegal dumping.
A Residential Franchise (RF) is a 3-cart system that provides weekly collection of trash, recyclables, organic waste (green waste and food waste) and other solid waste collection services to single-family homes and multi-family dwellings with four or less units. Customers contract with the selected waste hauler for services directly, and the County receives a franchise fee from the waste hauler for the privilege of being the exclusive provider of these services. Service is not mandatory; residents are able to opt-out and self-haul. Public Works oversees the contract to ensure appropriate service is consistently provided at the approved rates.
An RF ensures all occupied parcels receive consistent, high-quality waste collection services at the best rate possible. An RF is awarded following a competitive bidding process where waste haulers submit proposals to provide these services. These proposals are reviewed by an evaluation committee and scored based on a set criterion. The proposer with the highest score is selected and the Board of Supervisors awards the contract.
Public Works will inform the community once this information is available.
Due to the comments Public Works received in response to the California Environmental Quality Act documents that were posted for public review in 2022, Public Works is now preparing a full Environmental Impact Report (EIR). We anticipate a Notice of Preparation will be released in late January 2023 and a scoping meeting will be held in February 2023. Public Works will attend community meetings to answer questions and receive feedback from residents to help establish the new solid waste collection system that will address the unique needs of the residents of north Los Angeles County. Public Works anticipates the EIR will be made available for public review by summer 2023.
The process is estimated to be completed by the end of 2025. As such, the County will continue to provide updates at CleanLA.com/NoCoSWCollectionSvcs to keep the community informed.