Solid waste services, which include garbage, recycling, and green waste curbside collection and post-collection processing and disposal, are provided by Republic Services for the City of Hercules and other West County municipalities. There are two (2) separate contracts for solid waste and recycling programs and services for the City of Hercules, as follows:

1. Collection Services: This includes the curbside (or on-property) collection of solid waste material; and

2. Post-collection Services: This includes the processing of solid waste material after collection. Post-collection services involve either the disposal of non-reusable solid waste material or the processing of this material to be used in after-market products (such as compost or recycled products).

Collection Services

The City of Hercules has a Franchise-Collection Agreement with Richmond Sanitary Services, Inc. (RSS), a subsidiary of Republic Services, Inc. The City has direct control over the Collection Service program, and the City Council approved Republic Services as the franchised hauler for the City with a new contract that began on July 1, 2025.

Post-Collection Agreement (PCA)

The City of Hercules is a member of the West Contra Costa Integrated Waste Management Authority (Authority), also known as RecycleMore, which is comprised of San Pablo, El Cerrito, Richmond, Pinole, Hercules, and parts of Unincorporated Contra Costa County.  On behalf of its member agencies, RecycleMore has an agreement with Republic Service - West County Resource Recycling (Republic Services) for the post-collection processing and disposal of solid waste. The Authority’s current PCA with Republic Services commences on January 1, 2026, and extends through June 30, 2040, for a base term of 14.5 years.

Under the new PCA, Republic Services will continue to provide a comprehensive suite of post-collection services, including:

• Solid Waste Transfer and Disposal - Continued management and transportation of municipal solid waste to appropriate disposal sites.
• Recycling Processing - Sorting, processing, and marketing of recyclable materials to divert them from landfill disposal.
• Organics  Processing  -  Collection  and  composting  of  green  waste  and  food  scraps  in compliance with SB 1383 requirements.
• Construction and Demolition (C&D) Recycling - Processing of C&D materials for recovery and diversion.
• Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Program - Operation of both permanent and satellite HHW facilities, consistent with the current program scope. Additional information on Household Hazardous Waste Disposal can be found here.
• Mattress  Recycling  -  Ongoing  participation  in  the  regional  mattress  recycling  program, including resident drop-off services.

More information on the PCA can be found on RecycleMore’s website.