Costa Mesa City Council Approves Rate Hike for County Landfill Use Amid Capacity Concerns
The Costa Mesa City Council has reluctantly approved a rate increase for the use of county landfills, a decision affecting municipalities across Orange County. The Olinda Alpha Landfill is nearing capacity, prompting investments in the expansion of the Prima Desheca Landfill in San Juan Capistrano and the Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine. The Waste Infrastructure System Enterprise (WISE) agreement, which Costa Mesa signed in 1997, is set to expire on June 30. The council voted to renew the agreement for another 10 years, which includes a significant increase in the cost waste haulers pay to use the county's landfills. The rate will rise from $43.76 per ton to $67 per ton this year, $74 per ton in 2027, and $81 per ton in 2028. Cities that do not renew the agreement will face even higher rates, starting at $92.70 per ton and increasing to $110.77 per ton over the next three years. 
