In 2022, Measure B was approved, enabling the city to implement a trash and recycling collection fee for the first time.
SAN DIEGO — Are you aware that San Diego is the sole city in California that does not levy a trash collection fee for most single-family homes?
For over a century, the city has offered complimentary trash collection. Then, Measure B was passed in 2022, permitting the city to impose a fee for trash and recycling pickup services.
The City of San Diego is currently drafting a proposal for a collection fee by gathering public feedback and performing a cost of service analysis. Over the summer, open houses were organized for residents to learn about the proposed fee and provide their input.
At Monday’s community gathering at the Cathy Hopper Friendship Center, insights from previous meetings and an online survey were shared. The findings indicated that residents were most concerned about bulky item pickups, frequent damaged bins, and the disposal of hazardous materials. They expressed significant requests for easier replacement of broken containers and improved recycling options for various items.
“All of this data will be compiled into our presentation for the Environment Committee and City Council in early spring of 2025,” stated the Deputy Director of the City’s Environmental Services Department.
Additionally, in spring, affected residents will have a 45-day “protest period” to submit further comments via mail.
“If the majority of residents support any proposed fees, the matter will then progress to the City Council for final decisions, which could occur in June of 2025,” Deleon remarked.
If the fees are approved, residents might start seeing the new charges on their monthly bills in July.
The exact amount residents will pay remains uncertain; however, there was a discussion at Monday’s meeting regarding fees charged by nearby cities. Carlsbad, for instance, charges roughly $28 to $31 per month, while Chula Vista’s fees range between $23 and $35.
