Following a litigation settlement over the discrepancy with proposed fees, rates will reduce from $55 for most customers to $38.75 beginning in July 2027.

Nearly one year after city of San Diego homeowners began paying for trash collection, the San Diego City Council has voted to reduce the monthly fees following a litigation settlement, though the new rates will take a year to be effective.

Starting July 1, 2027, households paying $55 monthly for the 95-gallon trash bundle will pay $38.75; this fee will rise to $39.91 on July 1, 2028.

Customers with 65-gallon and 35-gallon bundles will have their fees reduced to $34.37 and $28.52, respectively on July 1, 2027; these will rise to $35.43 and $29.43 on July 1, 2028.

The City Council approved the fees in 2025, the first-ever levied by the city, after lengthy, contentious debates and months of pushback from residents about the perceived injustices of the new fee.

San Diego has provided collection services – mostly paid for by the general fund – for single-family homeowners and residential complexes up to four units, since 1919 and the implementation of the People’s Ordinance.

Residences on private streets and in gated communities, mixed-use properties and non-residential properties have always been charged for collection services.

In 2022, San Diego voters passed Measure B, which amended the People’s Ordinance to allow the city to begin charging for waste collection; at the time, the city estimated homeowners would be charged $23 to $29, pending a full fiscal analysis.

The adopted fees, however, were much higher, prompting a lawsuit against the city protesting the alleged misleading rates, leading to the June 8 City Council vote to lower the collection rates.

City trash and recycling customers are asked to review their service level online at WastePortal.sandiego.gov.

The full fee schedule is available on the City’s website at sandiego.gov/trash.