Phoenix residents are being asked to weigh in on a plan that would steadily raise their trash bills over the next several years. Phoenix Public Works has rolled out a customer survey on a proposed multi-year increase to the city's residential solid waste fee, open through March 31, with officials saying the feedback will help shape what the City Council considers next month.
The easiest way to give us your feedback about the proposed solid waste rate is through our customer survey, which will be open through March 31. Your input about the future matters to us!https://t.co/aheJij5dbZ Rate proposal details: https://t.co/t9CC6K30fC https://t.co/cm749G9jpc
— Phoenix Public Works (@phxpublicworks) March 18, 2026
What Phoenix Is Proposing
According to the City of Phoenix, Public Works is asking for a phased solid waste fee hike: a $6 per month increase on July 1, 2026, another $6 per month on July 1, 2027, and a further $5 per month on July 1, 2028. After that, the plan calls for an annual inflationary adjustment capped at 5 percent.
Under this proposal, the standard 90-gallon residential trash container would go from about $37.32 a month today to roughly $43.32 in July 2026, then to about $54.32 by July 2028. The package also includes changes to the curbside green organics subscription fee and highlights a 60-gallon trash container option that can cut the monthly bill by about $3, based on the city's materials.
Why the City Says It Needs a Hike
City staff say the numbers have not been adding up since the last approved rate adjustment in 2020. The Solid Waste Division "is expecting a budget shortfall of $20.8 million this fiscal year," the department wrote. Officials cite increasing personnel, equipment and infrastructure costs and argue that without new revenue, the alternative would be "large reductions in service," according to the City of Phoenix.
The Solid Waste Rate Advisory Committee signed off on recommending the measure in October, and staff have spent the winter holding nine community information sessions to walk residents through the tradeoffs.
How to Weigh In
The city says the quickest way to chime in is through an online customer survey hosted on Zencity. The engagement portal is open through March 31.
Phoenix Public Works is also promoting the survey on its official X account and directing residents to community information sessions and published FAQs for more detail on the proposal.
What Happens Next
The Phoenix City Council is slated to vote on the rate plan at its April 22 formal meeting. If the proposal is approved, the new rates would kick in on July 1, 2026, and the city says customers can expect to receive billing notices in May and June.
Residents with questions before then can email [email protected] or call the Public Works customer line at 602-262-6251 for more information.
