San Diego may charge for trash collection for first time since 1919

• San Diego, the only city in California that offers free trash pickup, is now set to introduce monthly fees for the service, charging residents $53 per month in July before increasing to a monthly rate of $65 by 2027. This money will go towards funding expanded waste management offerings.
• These additional services are expected to more than double the city’s spending on trash collection from $82 million annually to $165 million, which will then be raised again to $180 million after two years.
• A public hearing in June will allow residents to voice their opinions on this matter and, under local laws, enough opposition could potentially block the fee from being implemented.

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For over a century, San Diego residents enjoyed free trash collection services, recently being the only city in California that offered trash management for free. However, that could change in 2025, angering some residents, as local officials are attempting to close a more than $250 million budget deficit.

Why is San Diego considering this trash pickup fee?

In 2022, San Diego voters repealed a law known as the People’s Ordinance, which, since 1919, had given residents no-cost waste removal. As a result, the city council is now considering a monthly charge of $53 for trash collection starting as early as July, with an expected increase to $65 per month by 2027. San Diego estimates that implementing the fee could save its general fund nearly $60 million in its first year.

Before the 2022 vote, an analysis of the potential fee suggested that residents would pay between $23 and $29 per month for trash services, but acknowledged it could be higher. The increase is based on a recent “cost of service” study, which accounts for the expanded waste management services that will be offered, including free bin replacement, weekly recycling collection and occasional curbside bulk item pickup.

To assist low-income residents, the city has also allocated $3 million for financial aid, though details on how the subsidy will be distributed remain undecided.

How much will these services cost the city?

The additional services are expected to more than double San Diego’s waste management spending, rising from $82 million annually to $165 million, with a further increase to $180 million after two years.

If implemented, San Diego’s trash collection fees would be higher than those in neighboring cities like Los Angeles ($41), Chula Vista ($36) and Riverside ($37) but lower than those in Northern California cities such as San Francisco ($121), Oakland ($160) and San Jose ($160).

What happens next?

San Diego ranked as the 10th most expensive metro area in the U.S. last year, and some residents have voiced concerns that an annual waste collection fee exceeding $600 could add financial strain to household budgets. Supporters of the new fee argue that it creates a fairer system by ensuring all residents contribute to the cost of trash collection rather than relying on city funds.

San Diego residents affected by the proposed fees will have an opportunity to express their opinions at a public hearing in June. Under California’s Proposition 218, enough public opposition could prevent the fee from taking effect.