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The West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority (RecycleMore) contracts with Republic Services to manage the post-collection services for materials generated by the Member Agencies in the RecycleMore service area. The post-collection services include:
- Garbage transfer and landfill disposal
- Recycling materials processing
- Compost materials processing
- Construction and Demolition materials processing
- Household Hazardous Waste Program
The post-collection services are paid for by rates charged to ratepayers on the garbage bills.
In November 2025, a new Post-Collection Agreement between RecycleMore and Republic Services was approved, resulting in a garbage rate increase of approximately 3%.
2026 Calendar Year (January 1 – December 31, 2026)
The January 1, 2026 residential garbage bill increase of approximately 3% is due to the post-collection rate increase for the cities of Hercules, Pinole, Richmond and San Pablo. Please refer to the links below which provide the rates effective on January 1, 2026 for each City.
For Unincorporated Contra Costa County and the City of El Cerrito, the January 1, 2026 residential garbage bill increase is due to both collection services and post-collection cost increases. Please refer to the links below, which provide the rates effective on January 1, 2026.
- Unincorporated Contra Costa County (2026 Rates Increase Notification Postcard)
- Unincorporated Contra Costa County (2026 Rates)
- El Cerrito (2026 Rates)
Below is an explanation of the fees on a Republic Services residential garbage bill.
Republic Services garbage bills in West Contra Costa County include the costs to provide both post-collection (IRRF) and the collection services. The Cities and RecycleMore annually approve the rates that Republic Services charges customers, and RecycleMore is responsible for establishing the post-collection cost only.
The line highlighted in yellow is the level of Trash service provided. The Trash service level determines the cost for service. This bill shows the customer subscribes to 1- 32 or 35 gallon Trash cart collected weekly.
The line highlighted in green is the cost for post-collection service. This line also notes the timeframe for the service provided (“01/01-03/31”), which is January 1 through March 31 (3 months). The cost provided is the post-collection cost for 3 months of service for 1- 32 or 35 gallon Trash cart collected weekly.
The line highlighted in blue is the cost for collection service. This line also notes the timeframe for the service provided (“01/01-03/31”), which is January 1 through March 31 (3 months). The cost provided is the collection service cost for 3 months of service for 1- 32 or 35 gallon Trash cart collected weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) are for Republic Services customers concerning the new PCA and related rate increase.
What does my garbage bill pay for?
Two separate costs are included in your bill:
- The cost for collection includes the curbside or on-property pickup of your trash, compost/organics, and recycling materials (Richmond Sanitary Service cost).
- The cost for post-collection includes the transfer, disposal, and processing of trash, recycling, and compost/organic materials (IRRF cost).
These separate costs are included in your bill.
Who sets the garbage bill rates?
Collection rates are set by Republic Services (Richmond Sanitary Service) and approved by your City, through the City’s Collection Franchise Agreement.
Post-collection rates on your bill are the Integrated Resource Recovery Facility (IRRF) charge. These rates are approved by a separate local government agency which the City is a part of, known as RecycleMore, the West Contra Costa County Integrated Waste Management Authority.
Why is the post-collection cost increasing?
There is a new post-collection agreement with Republic Services starting January 1, 2026, which resulted in a cost increase. The cost increase includes processing upgrades to meet the State of California’s recycling and compost/organics laws, and to continue providing the following services to residents at no additional cost:
How can I save money on my bill?
Your garbage rates are based on the size of your trash cart. You can save money by reducing how much trash you throw away and subscribing to a smaller cart size. To help reduce your cart size, you can:
- Recycle: Use your blue cart for paper and cardboard, bottles, cans, and recyclable plastics.
- Compost: Use your green cart for food scraps and yard trimmings.
- Reduce waste: Avoid single-use products and reuse when possible.
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FAQs for Member Cities: Hercules, Pinole, Richmond, and San Pablo:
FAQs for Unincorporated West Contra Costa County: