Who hauls Suisun City’s trash for the next decade is on the line tomorrow night, as the City Council prepares to decide on a proposed 10-year solid-waste franchise. An evaluation committee has recommended Recology Vacaville Solano, and city staff say the draft agreement would start bundled residential service at $46.21 per month in the first year, with annual adjustments tied to the consumer price index. The council is set to take up the recommendation at 6 p.m. in the Council Chamber at City Hall.
The recommendation comes after a review of four proposals. If the council signs off, Recology would become the city’s exclusive hauler and agree to pay franchise fees equal to 13% of gross revenues, under a contract staff estimates at nearly $47.67 million. The draft prepared by staff layers in enhanced performance standards, administrative charges for service failures, and detailed provisions for labor disruptions, including a pre-approved contingency plan and a mandatory 180-day transition period at existing rates to ensure continuity from the incumbent. The current provider, Republic Services (operating as Solano Garbage Company), has held the exclusive franchise since 1968 and its existing contract runs through June 30, 2027, according to the Daily Republic.
What's in the draft deal
Behind the headline numbers, the draft agreement packs in a raft of service details. It includes household and commercial rate tables, a 65-gallon garbage cart option, and specific obligations for overflow monitoring and wind-related spillage response tailored to Suisun’s needs. It also spells out explicit requirements to meet SB 1383 diversion mandates through source-separated organics collection.
The draft attaches a maximum rate schedule and exhibits laying out commercial cart sizes and prices, giving residents and businesses a clearer look at what they would pay under the new setup. Those rate materials and the draft rate tables are posted on the city’s website, as shown in Suisun City.
How Proposition 218 Could Affect Rates
The fine print of Proposition 218 could still shape how and when any new rates land in residents’ mailboxes. Whether the city must hold formal Proposition 218 protest proceedings depends on how the negotiated first-year rate compares to the current rate after CPI adjustments through July 1, 2027. That calculation determines whether property owners get a formal vote on any increase.
The legal test, along with the notice-and-protest mechanics that go with it, will influence how quickly any new rates can take effect. City staff and the evaluation committee are treating that math as a key hurdle while they hammer out final contract details, according to the Daily Republic.
Next steps
Council members will first decide whether to accept the evaluation committee’s recommendation at Tuesday’s meeting. If they do, the city is scheduled to vote on a contract award on Aug. 4, 2026, with community information meetings planned ahead of that date to walk residents through any service changes.
For residents who want to get into the weeds on the Prop 218 process, including notice requirements and how to submit a written protest, the city’s public works Prop 218 page outlines the steps and deadlines. Public materials there also include contact information and the full rate exhibits for anyone seeking more detail, as outlined by Suisun City.
