Republic Services is committed to providing high quality service to our customers. We strive to contain our costs; however, we are unable to control fuel prices and environmental expenses unilaterally. The Fuel/Environmental Recovery Fee is a charge to help us recover these costs, and achieve an acceptable operating margin. This invoice line item represents two separate components, a fuel recovery fee and an environmental recovery fee.

Fuel Recovery Fee – Collection Services

The fuel recovery fee component of the charge references the U.S. Department of Energy diesel price U.S. Average index, which is based on data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration. For additional information on the index please click on the following link: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/wohdp/diesel_detail_report_combined.asp.

The Republic Services Fuel Recovery Fee component will be updated each month (on or about the 1st of each month). The corresponding diesel rate will be the peak weekly-published price per gallon in the preceding calendar month. The fuel recovery fee for your billing period will be based on the rate from the table for the month preceding the month in which you are invoiced.  For example, if the peak diesel price per gallon was $2.65, based on the Fuel Recovery Table (Click here for Fuel Recovery Fee Table) the fuel component of the charge would be 9.50% of your invoice amount, excluding tax, and this rate will apply for the entire period covered by your invoice.

The fuel recovery fee charged on your invoice is not associated with any explicit, direct or indirect cost to service your account. The fee is based on the overall cost of fuel incurred by Republic Services on a nationwide basis, and is designed to achieve an acceptable operating margin. This includes both direct and indirect fuel costs associated with collection, transfer, landfill operations, and material recovery facilities.

Environmental Recovery Fee – Collection Services

The environmental recovery fee component of the Fuel/Environmental Recovery Fee is established at 6% of invoice charges, excluding tax. This fee recovers the costs incurred on a nationwide basis associated with operating our facilities (collection, transfer, landfill, material recovery, and landfill to gas energy) in an environmentally safe manner, and is designed to achieve an acceptable operating margin.

The environmental recovery fee charged on your invoice is not associated with any explicit, direct or indirect cost to service your account.

Calculation of Fuel/Environmental Recovery Fee

The Fuel/Environmental Recovery Fee is charged to a customer’s invoice in the following manner:

1. The fuel recovery is applied to the total standard invoice charges, excluding tax.
2. The environmental recovery fee is then applied to the total standard charges, including the fuel recovery fee, excluding tax.

Not a Governmental Tax

The Fuel/Environmental Recovery Fee is not a tax, surcharge, or fee mandated/imposed by or remitted to any governmental or regulatory agency. As noted above, the fee is an Republic Services charge to cover our costs on a nationwide basis. The Fuel Recovery Fee or the Environmental Recovery Fee may be changed at the discretion of Republic Services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why am I charged a fuel recovery fee?
A: By separating the fuel cost out into a separate line item, we are better able to isolate fluctuations that may occur in fuel prices. This shares the cost of fuel during inflationary periods and gives the customer the benefit of reduced charges when fuel prices drop.

Q: How often does the fuel component of the charge change?
A: The fuel component of the charge will change on a monthly basis. The Fuel recovery fee % will increase/decrease as the national average diesel price changes.

Q: How often will the environmental recovery fee change?
A: The environmental recovery fee does not fluctuate on a monthly basis. This fee may change at the discretion of Republic Services.

We appreciate your business and look forward to continuing to serve you and the community. If you have any questions, please contact your local office at the phone number on your invoice.