Garbage rates may be going up in SLO. Here’s what your new bill could look like
Garbage bills in San Luis Obispo could get a little heftier in the coming year if a new rate increase is approved next month.
According to a city news release, the solid waste rates for San Luis Obispo residents and businesses are expected to increase by 7.98% following a public hearing March 18.
The increase would help pay for “increased collection and disposal costs for solid waste, recyclable and organics materials” and several new services, the city said.
According to an FAQ on the city’s website, San Luis Garbage Co. is requesting the rate increase to help “maintain safe, reliable and environmentally sound services” in light of increased costs.
The city said increased operating expenses at the garbage company’s post-collection facility have made it more expensive to process organic materials, while at the same time Cold Canyon Landfill tipping fees — the price to dispose of materials at a site — have jumped from $41 per ton to $70.
Additionally, the company said it is getting more expensive to collect trash, with the costs for labor, vehicles and operations jumping by about 4.2% this year.
The rates will go into effect if the city does not receive a protest from a majority of ratepayers and if they are approved by the City Council during the hearing.
According to the release, all solid waste customers in the city were mailed a notice with the rate adjustment details and instructions on how to submit a written protest. If a majority protest is reached, the rates will not go into effect or be considered for adoption.
If approved, the increase would impact garbage bills beginning March 19.
How much will your garbage bill change?
Residential customers could see their monthly garbage bills jump by between $1 and nearly $6 depending on the size of their garbage containers.
According to the city’s estimates, single-family residential customers’ bills would change as follows:
- 20-gallon bin: Increase from $14.74 to $15.92
- 32-gallon bin: Increase from $23.53 to $25.41
- 64-gallon bin: Increase from $47.05 to $50.80
- 96-gallon bin: Increase from $70.60 to $76.23
Commercial trash rates would increase by a low of $3.34 to a high of $124.13 depending on the size of their garbage bins and the frequency of pickups.
For a full list of multi-family residential and commercial rate changes, see the city’s website at bit.ly/3Xa93lj.
What new garbage services will be offered?
The rate increases will also come alongside some new services for SLO trash pickup customers.
For residents, the new services include a new Customer Assistance Program that would offer a 20% discount for qualifying low-income residential customers; three no-cost, large and bulky item pickups outside of the city’s Semi-annual Clean Up Weeks; one free annual bin exchange for residential customers “due to cleanliness, odor or damage” and no-cost curbside collection of whole holiday trees up to two weeks after Christmas.
In addition to the 7.98% rate increase, commercial customers who subscribe to the city’s recycling bin service once or twice a week will have to start paying 25% of their correlating trash rate to fund the service.
According to the city, these commercial customers are not currently paying for this service “and the recommended change is designed to ensure fairness for all customers.”
The change will not impact commercial customers who subscribe for recycling bin service more than twice a week since they already pay for the service, the city said.
How to weigh in on garbage rate increase
The city will hold an informational session with San Luis Garbage Co. on the proposed rate increase at the Ludwick Community Center, 864 Santa Rosa St., on Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m.
Doors for the session will open at 5 p.m.
If residents or business representatives are unable to attend the information session or have any questions, they can contact San Luis Garbage Co. at 805-543-0875 or the city’s Utilities Department at 805-781-7215.
The proposed changes will officially be presented to the City Council in a public hearing March 18 at 990 Palm St. at 5:30 p.m.
For more information, visit the 2025 Proposed Solid Waste Rates webpage at www.slocity.org/recycle.
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