City of San Diego Adopts New Trash Fee
The San Diego City Council on Monday, June 9, approved a cost-recovery trash fee, ensuring the modernization and sustainability of the City’s waste collection program.
Under the new system, everyone who qualifies for City-provided collection services, including single-family homeowners, will pay for those services. Once the new program is fully implemented, recycling collection will increase from bi-weekly to weekly, broken bins will be replaced at no additional charge, and customers can save money by opting for a smaller trash bin.
Today’s action comes as a result of Measure B, approved by voters in 2022. Measure B amended sections of the San Diego Municipal Code to remove a prohibition that prevented the City from charging a fee for City-provided solid waste management services, including the collection of trash, recycling and organics. The amendments also clarified eligibility requirements for these services, which are provided by the City’s ESD to mostly single-family properties, and to multi-family residential properties with four units or less on a single lot.
Starting July 1, 2025, approximately 226,500 customers will be added to a new customer database and funds from the trash fee will go into the new Solid Waste Management Fund. According to a recently completed cost-of-service study, the cost of waste collection services is projected to be $112.6 million in the current fiscal year and $139.4 million in FY2026.
Solid Waste Management Fee Schedule (cost per month)
Year One (starting July 1, 2025)
95-gallon recycling and organic bins
With 35-gallon trash bin - $32.82
With 65‐gallon trash bin - $38.94
With 95‐gallon trash bin - $43.60
Year Two (starting July 1, 2026)
95-gallon recycling and organic bins
With 35-gallon trash bin - $33.66
With 65‐gallon trash bin - $39.86
With 95‐gallon trash bin - $44.57
Year Three (starting July 1, 2027)
95-gallon recycling and organic bins
With 35-gallon trash bin - $40.57
With 65‐gallon trash bin - $48.76
With 95‐gallon trash bin - $55.00
Year Four (starting July 1, 2028)
95-gallon recycling and organic bins
With 35-gallon trash bin - $42.89
With 65‐gallon trash bin - $51.22
With 95‐gallon trash bin - $57.55
The process of determining eligibility and transitioning customers on or off City services is currently underway. Residents who will transition off of City services, due to their property not being eligible, are being notified by mail and provided with resources to assist in the transition, including a step-by-step guide and a list of City-approved private haulers. Ineligible properties include those with five or more residences on a single lot, and properties on private streets, among other factors. For more information, visit the City’s website.
On June 24, 2025, Environmental Services will present to the City Council the option to collect the proposed fee via the San Diego County property tax bill.
About the Environmental Services Department:
The Environmental Services Department (ESD) ensures that City of San Diego residents have a clean and safe environment. The department pursues waste management strategies that emphasize waste reduction; recycling and composting; and environmentally sound landfill management.