Starting today, city residents are encouraged to learn more about the proposed fees and services for waste collection. The City of San Diego reports a series of open houses will unfold to discuss the potential costs stemming from Measure B, which got the nod from voters back in 2022.
The proposed fees are part of the City's bid to pivot away from the General Fund for waste removal. It's a game-changer that would have residents start to pick up the tab to get rid of their garbage—not a light topic, considering the city started collecting trash sans direct payment about a century ago. Apartment dwellers and homeowners under associations, though, are familiar with the drill, as they've been paying for these kinds of services through private companies.
A cost-of-service study, which isn't just drawn from thin air, has been done to determine the monies involved in this shift. Kirby Brady, Interim Director at San Diego's Environmental Services Department (ESD), is on record saying, "By repealing the century-old People's Ordinance, San Diegans signaled that they want a more equitable system where everyone who receives waste management services – whether from the City or from a private company - pays for those services," as the City of San Diego states.
The lowdown on proposed fees includes improved service and punctuality, with the nitty-gritty like bin repairs and a crew to address missed collections swiftly. To keep it current, by FY2028, residents can look forward to curbside bulky item pickup and more frequent rounds for recycling collection. However, don't overlook the number crunch—San Diego's prospective fee for a 95-gallon service is $53 per month. This is snug between Sacramento's $57.79 and Long Beach's $67.63 tags. Jeremy Bauer, Assistant Director of ESD, highlighted the city's commitment to engaging residents, mentioning, "Since last summer, we have connected with nearly 10,000 San Diegans who shared with us what kind of waste collection services they would like to receive," as noted by the City of San Diego.
