Lake Forest’s Solid Waste Procurement Honored

The American Public Works Association (APWA) honored the City of Lake Forest for a groundbreaking approach to solid waste management that highlights the City's commitment to innovation and cost savings. 

The APWA Southern California Chapter awarded Lake Forest’s Joint Solid Waste Agreement Procurement Project the "Project of the Year" in the Creative and Innovative category. This recognition highlights the City’s leadership in forming strategic partnerships that benefit residents while ensuring fiscal responsibility. 

A First-of-Its-Kind Partnership 

With its waste hauling agreement set to expire in 2025, Lake Forest partnered with the City of Laguna Hills to jointly procure new contracts for refuse and recycling collection. By combining service areas, the two cities secured 10-year agreements with CR&R, resulting in $314,000 in annual savings—a total of $3.14 million over a decade—compared to procuring separate agreements. This innovative collaboration not only reduced costs for both cities but also strengthened regional efficiency in waste management. 

By working under a shared Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the two cities streamlined the bidding process, achieved economies of scale, and maximized cost savings for residents. The competitive bidding process led to agreements that not only reduce costs but also enhance services. 

What This Means for Residents 

The new agreement, set to take effect on July 1, 2025, will introduce several service improvements, including: 

• New collection trucks with collision avoidance, leak detection, and fire suppression systems 

• New carts and bins 

• New kitchen countertop pails for convenient food scrap collection 

• Enhanced community programs, including: 

• Two free compost events annually 

• A new bulky item drop-off day in addition to two curbside pickups 

• A household hazardous waste drop-off event and two at-home pickups 

• A sharps disposal mail-back program 

• An extended holiday greenery recycling program 

A Regional Model for Innovation 

Winning the APWA Project of the Year award affirms Lake Forest’s reputation as a leader in public works innovation. By leveraging regional collaboration and data-driven decision-making, the City has demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to essential services that benefits both residents and businesses. 

See www.lakeforestca.gov/trashandrecycling for more information.