Fountain Valley Locks in Trash Rates as County Prepares for Hikes

City joins WISE agreement to retain landfill access and cost certainty amid rising disposal fees.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:33pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a stack of neatly organized trash bins and recycling containers made from polished stainless steel, arranged elegantly on a clean, monochromatic background and dramatically lit to represent the abstract corporate strategy and financial considerations behind municipal waste management.As Orange County cities grapple with rising landfill fees, Fountain Valley secures long-term access and cost certainty through a regional waste management agreement.Fountain Valley Today

The Fountain Valley City Council voted unanimously to participate in Orange County's Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) agreement, securing a five-year rate schedule for residential trash services as the county prepares for significant landfill fee increases. The deal will provide cost certainty and priority access to local landfills for Fountain Valley and other cities in the region.

Why it matters

As landfill capacity in Orange County dwindles and disposal costs rise, cities are seeking to lock in rates and maintain access to local waste facilities. The WISE agreement allows Fountain Valley and other participating cities to avoid potentially much higher trash rates that could come from having to transport waste outside the county.

The details

Under the WISE agreement, Fountain Valley's trash disposal rate will rise from $43.76 per ton currently to $67 per ton on July 1, then increase to $74 per ton in fiscal year 2027-28 and $81 per ton in 2028-29. In the following two years, the rate will be adjusted for inflation. This will translate to monthly residential bill increases of $2.56 starting July 1, followed by 74 cents and 75 cents in the next two fiscal years. The city explored the option of transporting waste outside the county, but found those costs would exceed the WISE contract rate by 27.2%.

  • The WISE agreement will take effect on July 1, 2026.
  • Landfill fees are expected to increase from $43.76 per ton currently to $67 per ton on July 1, 2026.
  • Landfill fees are projected to rise to $74 per ton in fiscal year 2027-28 and $81 per ton in 2028-29.

The players

Orange County Waste & Recycling

The county agency that operates three active landfills and approximately 20 inactive sites in Orange County.

Scott Smith

Fountain Valley Public Works Director.

Debbie Killey

Municipal sales manager of Republic Services, Fountain Valley's trash hauler.

Glenn Grandis

Fountain Valley City Councilmember.

Ted Bui

Fountain Valley City Councilmember and member of the O.C. Waste Management and Recycle advisory committee.

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What they’re saying

“The initial conversation started out, they're going to increase to $82 a ton in the first year, and then could go up to nearly $107 a ton by year 2035. Through those conversations, through those negotiations, the OCCMA was able to come up with a graduated step up to that higher value over the course of three years … Once again, the landfill fees are going to increase on July 1.”

— Scott Smith, Fountain Valley Public Works Director

“The [O.C. Waste Management and Recycling] attorney stated that the only way that we can not allow other counties to import any more trash into the county is when our rate becomes competitive, that it does not make any more sense for outside counties to bring their trash into our county.”

— Ted Bui, Fountain Valley City Councilmember

What’s next

Fountain Valley has until the end of April to officially adopt the WISE agreement to avoid disposal rates that could be as much as 10% higher.

The takeaway

As landfill capacity in Orange County diminishes and disposal costs rise, cities like Fountain Valley are proactively securing long-term cost certainty and access to local waste facilities through regional agreements like WISE. This helps mitigate the impact of escalating trash rates on residents.