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RecycLA Contracts / Service Providers Compliance / Objectives and Performance / Commercial Green Bin Service

Council File 23-1032

Under review — the City Attorney drafted an ordinance to restructure RecycLA's fee system and franchise zones, which is now waiting for the Energy and Environment Committee to examine it before the full Council can vote.

Introduced
2023-09-21
Last changed
2026-08-28
Status
open
Expires
2028-08-27
Committee
Energy and Environment Committee
Initiated by
Bureau of Sanitation
References
Related Council Files: 19-0170-S1; 21-1208-S3City Administrative Officer Report: 0150-13098-0000City Attorney Report: R26-0443

Brief

The Bureau of Sanitation initiated this file to monitor RecycLA service provider compliance with contract objectives and performance standards for commercial green bin collection. Council adopted the Bureau's recommendations in June 2026 on a 14-0-1 vote. A City Attorney document submitted July 29, 2026, is now pending review in the Energy and Environment Committee. The file has been active since September 2023, with regular status updates and contract amendment discussions ongoing.

Full summary

RecycLA is Los Angeles's exclusive commercial and multi-family waste hauling and recycling franchise program, managed through contracts with private service providers across geographic zones. This Council File, initiated by the Bureau of Sanitation in September 2023, began as an ongoing compliance-monitoring mechanism, tracking provider performance against contractual objectives and diversion requirements. Over time it has expanded into a vehicle for more fundamental reform of the program's legal and financial structure. On June 9, 2026, Council voted 14-0-1 to adopt Bureau of Sanitation recommendations on an urgent basis, on a motion by Councilmembers Nazarian and Jurado. That vote directed the City Attorney to draft an ordinance amending Article 6, Chapter VI of the Los Angeles Municipal Code to modify the RecycLA franchise system. The City Attorney delivered that draft ordinance on July 29, 2026, and it was referred to the Energy and Environment Committee the following day, where it now sits pending review. The draft ordinance makes three principal changes. First, it replaces the current annual franchise fee paid by waste haulers with a new annual administration fee plus a one-time implementation fee, with revenues deposited into a newly created RecycLA Administration Fee Special Fund in the City Treasury. Second, it redesignates the three existing single franchise zones as Small Franchise Zones and allows a franchisee to hold more than one Small Zone under a combined agreement, giving the City more flexibility in how it structures future contracts. Both of these changes would apply only to new franchise agreements executed after the ordinance takes effect, leaving current contracts undisturbed. Third, and effective immediately upon passage, the ordinance clarifies minimum service level requirements that commercial establishments and multi-family dwellings must meet under state-mandated recycling and organic waste diversion programs, strengthening the City's enforcement tools against customers rather than franchisees. The file has been active since September 2023, with the Bureau of Sanitation and City Administrative Officer submitting periodic status reports on contract negotiations and RFP development. The draft ordinance represents the most concrete structural reform to emerge from that oversight process, and its fate now rests with the Energy and Environment Committee before any further Council action.

Activity (36)

  • 2026-08-28 Bureau of Sanitation document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-08-27 Document submitted by Bureau of Sanitation, dated August 27, 2026.
  • 2026-07-30 City Attorney document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-07-29 Document submitted by City Attorney, dated July 29, 2026.
  • 2026-06-09 Council adopted Motion (Nazarian - Jurado) to adopt the Bureau of Sanitation recommendations, Urgent Forthwith
  • 2026-06-09 Council action final.
  • 2026-06-05 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on June 9, 2026.
  • 2026-05-05 Energy and Environment Committee submits report to Council without recommendation .
  • 2026-05-01 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on May 5, 2026.
  • 2026-04-09 Bureau of Sanitation document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2026-04-09 Document submitted by Bureau of Sanitation, dated April 9, 2026.
  • 2026-01-21 Council adopted the City Administrative Officer report dated November 14, 2025 forthwith.
  • 2026-01-21 Council action final.
  • 2026-01-16 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on January 21, 2026.
  • 2025-12-02 The Chair and Member of the Energy and Environment Committee submits this report to Council without recommendation.
  • 2025-11-26 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on December 2, 2025.
  • 2025-11-14 City Administrative Officer document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2025-11-14 Document submitted by City Administrative Officer, dated November 14, 2025.
  • 2024-03-19 Council action final.
  • 2024-03-15 Council adopted item, subject to reconsideration, pursuant to Council Rule 51.
  • 2024-03-12 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on March 15, 2024.
  • 2024-02-23 Energy and Environment Committee noted and filed item(s).
  • 2024-02-21 Bureau of Sanitation document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2024-02-20 Document(s) submitted by Bureau of Sanitation, as follows:Bureau of Sanitation report, dated February 20, 2024, relative to a status update on recycLA contract negotiations and RFP development, and related matters.
  • 2024-02-16 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on February 23, 2024.
  • 2023-12-08 Energy and Environment Committee received and filed item(s).
  • 2023-12-04 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on December 8, 2023.
  • 2023-12-01 Bureau of Sanitation document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2023-12-01 Document(s) submitted by Bureau of Sanitation, as follows:Bureau of Sanitation report, dated December 1, 2023, relative to the status of all recycLA contracts and the recycLA service providers' contract amendment negotiations.
  • 2023-10-13 Council action final.
  • 2023-10-13 Council adopted item, as amended, forthwith.
  • 2023-10-06 City Clerk scheduled item for Council on October 13, 2023.
  • 2023-09-29 Energy and Environment Committee approved as amended .
  • 2023-09-25 Energy and Environment Committee scheduled item for committee meeting on September 29, 2023.
  • 2023-09-21 Bureau of Sanitation document(s) referred to Energy and Environment Committee.
  • 2023-09-21 Document(s) submitted by Bureau of Sanitation, as follows:Bureau of Sanitation report, dated September 21, 2023, relative to the status of all recycLA contracts and the recycLA service providers' compliance with contract objectives and performance requirements, and related matters.

Documents (29)

Council votes (1)

  • 2026-06-09 Vote — 14-0-1 · Regular

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