Republic to Take Over California Landfill Operation

Republic Services Inc. will take over operation of the Sonoma County, Calif., landfill west of Cotati.

The Sonoma County board of supervisors approved the privatization of the landfill to the Phoenix-based Republic, but the county retains ownership, an official for the county confirmed.

Republic is scheduled to takes over the landfill this summer with a 20-year contract worth an estimated $547 million. However, the deal depends upon cities committing their waste to the 170-acre landfill.

Government officials have stated that the deal is the best way to enable a $60 million landfill expansion, cap and to stabilize rates that have increased significantly under county operation. It also settles more than $90 million in shared liabilities for the central landfill site and seven former dumps across the county.

The county expects recycling programs, including recovery of commercial food waste and construction material, to expand under the deal. The county estimates curbside waste service initially won’t increase more than 4 percent on average for residential customers.