25-02-2025
San Diego asking for public input as it finalizes new trash collection fees
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The city of San Diego is in the process of finalizing a new fee for waste collection services after more than a century of no-cost pick-up and residents will be able to give their input at a public forum Monday night.
The proposed fee would start at about $42 to $53 per month for some 233,000 single-family homes, depending on the kinds of containers used. Should it be approved, homeowners can expect the fee to go into effect at the start of the next fiscal year on July 1.
The fee structure, the Environmental Service Department estimates, would allow the city to save more than $60 million in savings from its general fund during its first year — something San Diego officials urgently need in order to close a $250 million budget deficit.
It would also allow the city to offer free bin replacement and repairs, as well as other service enhancements.
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'I don't have a problem with it, it's a service,' one University City resident said of the trash fee.
While some San Diego residents do not mind paying, others have expressed skepticism about the prospect of another fee given the city's already high cost of living.
The proposed fee falls on the higher end of the cost range for waste collection services compared to other California cities, although it remains markedly cheaper than those in Northern California areas like Oakland and San Jose that charge over $160 per month.
Public meetings will be taking place for residents to learn more about the fee and give their input on the services. The first will be held at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Otay Mesa-Nestor Library, located at 3003 Coronado Ave. Additional meetings are scheduled for:
March 3 – Rancho Peñasquitos Library, 13330 Salmon River Rd.
March 10 – Pacific Highlands Ranch Library, 12911 Pacific Pl.
March 17 – City Heights/Weingart Library, 3795 Fairmount Ave.
March 24 – Balboa Park, Casa del Prado Room 101, 1650 El Prado
March 25 – Linda Vista Library, 2160 Ulric St.
April 1 – Skyline Hills Library, 7900 Paradise Valley Rd.
April 4 – Virtual meeting
April 7 – San Diego College of Continuing Education, 3249 Fordham St.
April 8 – North University Community Library, 8820 Judicial Dr.
A full calendar can be found on the city's Clean Green SD website.
'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,' said Jeremy Bauer, ESD assistant director, said in a release. 'We now encourage folks to come back and join us during our third round of community engagement to better understand the new services proposed, how the fees would apply, the timing of next steps, and how to stay involved.'
FOX 5/KUSI's Elizabeth Alvarez contributed to this report.
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