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Commercial Waste Collection
Waste Collection Agreement with Waste Management
On July 27, 2022, the City Council approved a waste collection agreement with Waste Management (WM). Please visit the waste collection agreement page for additional information about the agreement.
Under this agreement, WM has an exclusive franchise for commercial waste collection in Westlake Village. This is different from the prior agreement, in which commercial waste collection operated as an open market. The new agreement establishes City-approved rates for waste collection such that all businesses will be paying the same rates.
List of new rates effective September 1, 2022
For businesses that use WM for waste collection, you should have been transitioned to the new rate structure and been contacted by WM to "right-size" your service to ensure that you have the proper balance of garbage, recyclables, and organic waste collection and the proper frequency of service to minimize your rates.
The only hauler other than WM that has permit for waste collection in Westlake Village is Universal Waste Systems, Inc. For businesses that use Universal Waste Systems, you will be allowed to remain with them until October 2027, at which time you will be required to switch to WM. You may switch to WM at any time prior to October 2027, but you may not switch to another hauler. If you switch to WM, you will not be able to switch back to Universal Waste Systems.
Separating Waste
All businesses are required by City ordinance and State law to separate waste into three separate containers: trash, recyclables, and organics.
- Who provides commercial waste collection in Westlake Village?
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The City of Westlake Village has an exclusive agreement with Waste Management to provide commercial waste collection services including trash, recyclables, and organic waste. The exclusive agreement took effect in August 2022 and is subject to a five-year transition period as required by State law. Please review the other FAQs for additional information.
- If Waste Management is my current waste hauler, can I change to another hauler?
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No, the City has an exclusive agreement with Waste Management for commercial waste collection service. If you believe that you are paying too much for your service, Waste Management can help you "right-size" your service to ensure that you are not paying for excess capacity or pickups that you don't need. Please contact Waste Management to discuss your service options.
- If I already use a hauler other than Waste Management, do I have to switch to Waste Management?
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While the City has an exclusive agreement with Waste Management, there is a five-year transition period required by State law. Businesses who currently use a hauler other than Waste Management may stay with that hauler for up to five years, until October 2027. At that time, those businesses must switch to Waste Management.
At any time during the five-year transition period, businesses may choose to switch to Waste Management, but may not switch to any other hauler. Once a business has switched to Waste Management, it must remain with Waste Management and cannot switch back to their original hauler or any other hauler.
All businesses using Waste Management will pay the same competitive rates negotiated by the City. Businesses using other haulers will pay whatever rates they have negotiated with their respective hauler.
Regardless of which hauler is used, all businesses must subscribe to collection service for trash, recyclables, and organic waste as required by City ordinance and State law.
- Am I required to pay for recyclables and organic waste collection?
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Pursuant to City ordinance and State law, all businesses must have collection services for trash, recyclables, and organic waste. There is no ability to opt out of these services.
Businesses that are customers of Waste Management pay a bundled service rate that includes trash, recyclables, and organic waste collection service. Waste Management will work each business to "right-size" their service and ensure that they have the proper ratio of service based on the amounts of trash, recyclables, and organic waste generated.
Businesses that are customers of another hauler pay service rates as negotiated between them and their hauler. Regardless of the rate structure, all businesses must have trash, recyclables, and organic waste service.
- What if my business does not generate any organic waste?
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All businesses generate organic waste, even if it is a minimal amount. All food waste, napkins, paper towels, uncoated paper plates, paper bags, and other compostable items are considered organic waste and must be placed in the organic waste container.
Pursuant to City ordinance and State law, all businesses must have collection service for trash, recyclables, and organic waste. Further, all businesses must provide separate collection containers for their employees and customers to collect recyclables and organic waste separately from trash. There is no ability to opt out of organic waste collection service.